$2 million in Litter Prevention Grants available to help keep NSW litter free

05 October 2021

Community groups, councils, Regional Waste Groups, and businesses across NSW can now access $2 million in grants to help clean-up and prevent litter in their local area, Environment Protection Authority Engagement, Education and Programs Executive Director Liesbet Spanjaard announced today.

Litter Prevention Grants of up to $150,000 are available in four streams including:

Council Litter Prevention Grants Program
Litter Regional Implementation Program (for Regional Waste Groups)
Community Litter Prevention Grants Program
Cigarette Butt Litter Prevention Grants Program (including for businesses and government organisations).

“Already in NSW we’ve seen incredible results in litter reduction, with a 43 per cent reduction in statewide litter volume since 2013-14. These grants provide the opportunity to build on that success with exciting local initiatives,” Ms Spanjaard said.

“Community groups and councils, including regional waste groups, can apply for grants of up to $150,000 for projects that help prevent and clean up local litter.

“This might include installing cigarette butt bins in parks, localising the successful ‘Don’t be a Tosser’ campaign, running community clean-up days, or developing education strategies and litter enforcement campaigns.

“Businesses such as pubs and clubs, and government organisations can also apply under the Cigarette Butt grant stream for projects that help manage butt litter.

“Projects completed through previous grants have had great success - reducing average litter by 70% at targeted hotspots,” Ms Spanjaard said.

“We know litter is less likely to return once it’s cleaned up, so these local initiatives have a real impact.

“I encourage groups, councils and businesses to brainstorm the best way to tackle litter in their area and to put those ideas into action by applying for a Litter Prevention Grant.”

The Litter Prevention Grants support the litter targets in the NSW Government’s Waste and Materials Strategy 2041 and the NSW Plastics Action Plan, including a 30% reduction in plastic litter by 2025, and a 60% reduction in overall litter by 2030.

Applications for the Litter Prevention Grants Transition Round are open until 8 November 2021.

More information about each of the grant streams including how to apply is available at https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/grants/litter-program.