28/08/2008 - Currently there are 38 National Packaging Covenant funded projects underway across Australia with almost $13 million of Covenant funding (Industry and Government). These projects have leveraged total investment of more than $67 million and have the potential to divert approximately 550,000 tonnes per annum of packaging waste from landfill. You can read all about current and complete projects on the Covenant website under the projects section.
The Covenant National Projects Group (NPG) is now seeking expressions of interest (EOIs) for funding due before Friday 26th September 2008
All Covenant Signatories, local, state and federal governments are entitled to Covenant funding and encouraged to apply.
To find out more about the process for submitting an EOI or further details on timelines please read the EOI guidelines and contact your state JPG representative for support.
Program priorities for 2009 are:
1. Projects that collect and/or reprocess substantial additional tonnes of used packaging material each year from the commercial and industrial sector.
" Tonnes must be "new tonnes" and must be able to be maintained in future years. Projects delivering more than 5,000 tonnes per year will be given priority.
" Proposals must address material sources, reprocessing capacity and markets for the additional tonnes identified.
Such projects could focus on:
" Commercial recycling, for example, retail, workplaces, major venues, shopping centres, hotels and restaurants, food service/ catering applications, manufacturing, institutions (universities, hospitals), industrial estates.
" Improving current systems and infrastructure to increase resource recovery from the C&I sector by improving the effectiveness of existing collection (eg education and awareness, collection of additional packaging materials and improved infrastructure).
2. Substantial supply chain management projects that reduce the amount of packaging or improve its performance eg. re-use, recyclability. Projects must involve at least 2-3 aspects or members of the supply chain (eg retailer, brandowner, packaging supplier).
Such projects could focus on:
" Auditing
" Packaging or system improvement
" Measurable outcomes
3. Market development and/or processing infrastructure for materials that have lower collection rates and fewer market opportunities (for example, polypropylene, polystyrene, glass fines).
4. Improved recovery of packaging for recycling from existing household systems, including multi-unit dwellings. Regional projects delivering over 5000 tonnes per year will be given priority.
Such projects could focus on:
" Education and awareness (to increase the recovery of packaging for recycling that still remains in the household garbage bin, eg steel cans).
" Improved infrastructure for multi-unit dwellings.
5. Innovation in the design of bins or collection systems for limited spaces (note: excluding household kitchen systems).
6. Strategic litter reduction or prevention programs for litter hot-spots identified in the Keep Australia Beautiful National Litter Index, based on integrated approaches that involve education, systems, infrastructure and enforcement.
Such projects would:
" Have a strong research and community engagement component.
" Seek to engage and involve other project partners.
" Include an evaluation of project outcomes including measurable litter reduction and changes in littering behaviour.[1]
[1] Applicants should review the report, Does your project make a difference? to develop appropriate evaluation measures for projects. The report is available from the NSW Department of Environment and Climate change website: .
The Covenant has a history of funding projects that contribute significantly to implementing new infrastructure and technologies, developing new systems and 'best practice' advice as well as funding litter initiatives. Remember, EOIs must be lodged before 26th September 2008.
For more information please visit the Covenant website.
