The Morrison Government has announced a new $20 million commitment for innovative projects to grow our domestic recycling industry. This funding will be made available through Round 8 of the Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) grants which open today.

In addition to the funding for projects in plastic recycling, $10.8 million is available for critical minerals projects. The round is also open to general applications from all industry sectors.

Note that applications must be led by industry and Flinders University can participate as the Australian research organisation.

Each CRC-P must include at least:

• two Australian industry entities including a least one SME, and
• one Australian research organisation

CRC-P grants are up to $3 million, over a period of up to three years.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the funding was part of his Government’s commitment to work with the states to establish a timetable to ban the export of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres. “By engaging industry and researchers we can make sure we’re seeing these changes introduced in a way that cuts costs for businesses and ultimately even creates jobs.”
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the funding would create Australian jobs, while reducing global plastic pollution. “Boosting our onshore plastic recycling industry has the potential to create over three times as many jobs as exporting our plastic waste, ensuring a more sustainable and prosperous future.”
Recent figures suggest only 12 per cent of the 103kg of plastic waste generated per person in Australia each year is recycled, mostly overseas.

Applications for Round 8 will close at 5:00pm AEST, 24 September 2019. Internal closing date will be 10 September to allow for approval of co-investment where applicable and processing participant declaration forms. Please contact Mary Lyons, Senior Research Grants Officer (IIGI), Research Development and Support with your intention to apply.

Information on how to apply, and details of previous grant recipients is available at www.business.gov.au/crc-p.