Snowy Monaro success for EPA funded litter prevention grant

Published on 14 February 2022

Snowy Monaro Regional Council has been advised of their success in an application for a $75,000 NSW EPA funded litter prevention grant under the Waste Less Recycle More initiative.

The Litter Prevention Grants Program supports litter targets in the next phase of the NSW Government’s Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041, which includes targets to reduce plastic litter by 30 per cent by 2025, and 60 per cent of all litter items by 2030. 

The funds will allow Council to implement a project to tackle litter in hotspots highlighted by the community and identified in the Sustainable Snowies Strategy, such as Jindabyne’s Claypits carpark, high traffic lake foreshore areas, Banjo Paterson Park and Pooh Bay. This is especially a growing issue in the busy winter months and peak holiday periods as lake foreshore usage continues to expand across all seasons.

The project will use litter prevention activities, such as upgrading infrastructure, leading community clean-ups, educational campaigns and regulatory activities, over a ten-month period.

Through a collaborative approach the project aims to reduce litter by creating community ownership and engaging local waste ambassadors. Upgrading of bin stations and signage, and trialling new bin systems form part of this prevention program to reach litter reduction targets.

The project will be coordinated by Council’s Resource and Waste Education Officer, Edwina Lowe. “We welcome this new funding and are excited to partner with Sustainable Snowies, Canberra Region Joint Organisation and community groups to deliver this exciting project” she said.

According to the EPA, the Waste Less Recycle More initiative has reduced litter across NSW by 43 percent since 2013. The estimated cost of litter services nationally is approximately $300M to $350M annually. 

For more information:
https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/grants/litter-program/council-litter-grants