Circular Infrastructure Grants

Circular Infrastructure Grants are available to South Australian businesses and local governments that recover, handle and process recyclable materials with the opportunity to invest in equipment, technology and processes to respond to the prevailing market conditions.

How much money is available?

• Applications $25,000 to a maximum of $300,000 (excluding GST) per project are invited.  
• Up to $500,000 (excluding GST) may be available for large scale projects of state significance that involve significant capital expenditure.
• Councils seeking more than $300,000 (excluding GST) must demonstrate a financial commitment by at least 3 councils as evidenced through a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding

Who can apply?

South Australian businesses and local governments that recover, handle and process recyclable materials with the opportunity to invest in equipment, technology and processes to respond to the prevailing market conditions. 

What will we fund?

These grants will assist companies, local authorities and organisations to purchase and install infrastructure and provide innovative approaches to increase the types, quantities and quality of resources that are kept circulating in the South Australian economy for as long as possible, at their higher possible value, and to recover resources and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill each year.

The program encourages applications for infrastructure projects that will contribute to achieving these aims and demonstrate economic, environmental and social benefits for South Australia.

Priority will be given to:

• projects that support highest value use of resources and/or circular economy principles such as waste avoidance, reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture
• new or upgrade to existing infrastructure and/or equipment to enable remanufacturing/value adding of targeted material streams for local use (preferred)
• projects that support improved sorting and/or processing to enhance recoverable material quality through reduced contamination levels for local use or re-entry into export markets
• projects aimed at improving reuse, recycling and resource recovery should target recyclable materials most affected by low commodity prices, specifically:
  • recovered paper, cardboard, glass and plastics
  • food waste recovery 
• projects that address emerging, problematic or complex material streams such as PV panels, lithium-ion batteries, wind turbine blades, CCA treated timber and textiles – but will need to demonstrate clear end markets for materials and project viability.

The funding is open to applications from any South Australian company, local authority or authorities, or organisation that meets eligibility criteria, including but not limited to recycling and composting businesses, charities, and First Nations businesses.

What WON’T we fund?

Grant funds will not be available for:

• retrospective projects (to be eligible, projects must start after the applications closing date, 31 January 2025, subject to notification of success through the grant assessment process )
• energy from waste projects
• construction and demolition waste sorting or processing
• landfill (compliance, development, extension or closure)
• operational expenses, including fuel, electricity, maintenance, project monitoring, motor vehicles or trucks (specialised equipment for vehicles may be considered)
• advertising costs
• education and training programs
• salaries, studies, investigations or research and development activities
• building purchase, lease or other general service provision, or projects with a primary focus on construction (without additional elements)
• land purchase or lease
• machinery leasing – equipment must be purchased outright
• projects that promote low value recovery of resources.

When does it close?