Local councils and private businesses are invited to apply for grants under a new program, the Civil Construction Market Pilot program, which works as a "matchmaker" service where waste from one project can be safely used to benefit another project.
Examples to date include pallets being made into chook bedding and timber offcuts being used to produce eco-friendly particleboard by another manufacturer.
The new Civil Construction Market Pilot program has the important goal of landfill diversion but focuses on construction and demolition (C&D) waste, with grants available to assist consultants, contractors, waste service providers and local government personnel find opportunities where construction and demolition waste, a major contributor to landfill, can be effectively used elsewhere.
For example, an EPA funded local council could source crushed concrete, crushed brick and glass fines from construction projects, and opt to recycle this material in the construction of pavements.
EPA Executive Director Waste and Resource Recovery Steve Beaman said the EPA wanted to increase the C&D industry's take-up of recycling and reuse opportunities.
"Construction and demolition activities account for more than 6.8 million tonnes of waste in NSW each year, and more than a quarter of that is sent to landfill," Beaman said.
"This pilot program aims to divert at least 12,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste from landfill each year by matching waste to reuse opportunities.
"The availability of these grants means councils and businesses can be more strategic in their approach to reuse and recycling, and can add landfill diversion into the early planning stages of their projects."
The Circulate construction and demolition pilot program will run over the 2016-17 financial year across the Sydney metropolitan and regional areas. Project grants range from $20,000 to $75,000.
Applications are open for the Civil Construction Market Pilot Program, under EPA Circulate, until 25 November 2016.
More information on the pilot grant program is available online at http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/wastegrants/circulate-civil-construction-market-program.htm
The EPA will be hosting an information session in Sydney on Monday 14 November at 10am to provide more information about the pilot program and application process. A recording of the session will be available no later than Friday 18 November.
Venue details and link will be provided to those who register their interest via email to [email protected]
