The purpose of the Initiative is to assist businesses to improve their trade waste management. Better methods for treatment and disposal of trade waste at the source site means improved re-use options, a lessening of business operating costs and a reduction in the risk of contaminants impacting upon the receiving environment.
How does it work?
The Initiative will run for two years and comprises two components. Funding of up to 50% of the costs of each component is available for eligible businesses.
- Resource productivity assessments – tailored assessments aimed at identifying and recommending areas a business can improve its trade waste management. The maximum amount of funding is $10,000 (GST exclusive).
- Trade waste implementation grants – grants to assist food and beverage customers to implement trade waste improvement measures. The maximum amount of funding is $300,000 (GST exclusive).
Is my business eligible for resource productivity assessment funding?
South Australian businesses are eligible to apply for funding of resource productivity assessments if the business can provide evidence (documented and disclosed by SA Water) that it discharges trade waste at levels above or within 20% of the following volume and load-based thresholds:
- 10 tonnes Biological Oxygen Demand or Suspended Solids per year
- 20 tonnes Total Dissolved Solids per year
- 10 ML volume per year
Businesses that are not connected to SA Water’s trade waste network and do not have documented trade waste levels are still eligible to apply for funding if the business holds a licence for “Food Production and Animal and Plant Processing” granted by the Environment Protection Authority.
Is my business eligible for a trade waste implementation grant?
Trade waste implementation grants are limited to trade waste “food and beverage customers” currently connected to, or planning to connect to, the SA Water trade waste network within 24 months of application. Applicants must also trigger or be within the 20% of the above volume and load-based trade waste thresholds.
A “food and beverage customer” is a customer with a saleable food or beverage product (wholesale or retail) that fits either one, or a combination of the following:
- used directly for human consumption
- used directly in the preparation of food or beverages for human consumption
- prepared from organic waste generated by other food and beverage businesses and used in the production of pet foods
When can I apply?
Applications for the first round of resource productivity assessment funding are open now until 5:00pm Monday 31 October 2016. Application forms can be found at the Office of Green Industries SA website.
The first funding round of applications for trade waste implementation grant has not yet opened. It is anticipated that the round will open later this year.