Keep Australia Beautiful local community grants now available to increase beverage container recycling
Applications are now open for a community grant of up to $10,000 for local projects that will help increase the recycling of beverage containers.
The Keep Australia Beautiful grants, funded by Coca-Cola, are open to all communities across Australia with grants of up to $10,000 per applicant available for projects that will result in a measurable increase in beverage container recycling in local communities.
Applications are open to community groups, local associations, small to medium enterprises and local councils and will be awarded to:
– projects which address the specific issue of beverage container recycling and it’s by-products;
– practical local solutions that can be used as examples for others and leave a legacy;
– projects that do not duplicate existing recycling activities; and
– projects that result in measurable volumes of recycled materials.
According to Peter McLean, Keep Australia Beautiful National Executive Officer, “Local communities play an important role in tackling litter and diverting waste from landfill. By providing funding for additional public place recycling infrastructure, education and awareness, this program aims to significantly increase beverage container recycling rates at the very local level.
“These grants enable projects that otherwise might not come to fruition to be implemented by local community groups, councils, and other organisations to benefit both the local community and the environment in a positive, results driven way.”
A proven ability to implement, measure and report on suitable projects will be taken into account, whilst past and present participants in the keep Australia Beautiful Sustainable Communities Awards-incorporating the Tidy Towns and Sustainable Cities programs, will also be highly regarded.
In larger communities this may mean infrastructure for events, or for special venues such as large retail centres, sporting venues or education centres. In smaller communities, it may mean assistance with transport or processing to overcome remote location or dispersed population.
The 2013 grants program brings the investment by Coca-Cola to $1.2 million in partnership with the Keep Australia Beautiful Network, to encourage public place recycling. Over 125 organisations have implemented local projects Australia wide through the program to date.
A total of $409,000 in grant funding is available for this year’s program with applications closing on Friday 14th June 2013. Successful applications will be advised by early July.
To apply visit the Keep Australia Beautiful national website: www.kab.org.au (click ‘Programs Beverage Container Recycling Grants’) and fill in the online application form or contact Keep Australia Beautiful National Association.