In October 2021 Council sought community feedback on a program designed to bring together new and existing sustainable living initiatives under the one umbrella.
The Sustainability Rebates and Small Grants program will offer a range of financial support mechanisms to local residents, schools and businesses to improve environmental outcomes in the areas of waste and recycling, renewable energy, water and energy efficiency, biodiversity, food security and sustainable transport.
The aim of the proposal was to better promote and evaluate the environmental outcomes and community behaviour changes resulting from these initiatives.
On Monday 22 November 2021, Council endorsed the proposal. Thank you everyone for your feedback.
What does the program include?
At the time of this engagement, residents, schools and businesses were able to access the following assistance:
- Rebate for residents for reusable nappies and sanitary items
- Rebate for residents for composting and worm farming materials
- Rebate for residents for solar installations
- Grants for businesses to save water
- Grants for schools for Environmental Initiatives
The total value of the program in 2021/22 is $155,000. For more information see our Frequently Asked Questions.
Program | Proposed Budget | Funding Source | Grant / Rebate Value | Intent |
Nappy and Sanitary Rebate | $40,000 | NSW EPA Better Waste & Recycling Grant | 50% of purchase price (max $150 for nappies and $100 for sanitary products) | To reduce financial barriers to switching to reusable nappies and sanitary products, normalise reusable nappies and sanitary products and reduce waste. |
Water Saving Partnership Subsidy - Business | $30,000 | Sydney Water Grant | Up to $2,000 per eligible business (small-medium businesses) | To subsidise upgrades to water using devices and appliances, as well as education and signage for staff and customers to assist in reducing water use. |
School Waste Grants | $30,000 | Waste Education Contract Agreement | $1,000 per eligible school , $500 per pre-school | To assist local schools to implement projects in areas of waste reduction, recycling, composting, litter reduction. |
Sub-total | $100,000 | |||
Compost and Worm Farm Rebate | $5,000 | Domestic Waste Service Budget | $50 per eligible household | To reduce the financial barrier for residents to take up home composting and diversion of food waste from landfill. |
School Environmental Education Grants | $6,000 | Environmental Education Project Budget | $1,000 per school | Increase school based environmental education around cycling, stormwater pollution and biodiversity. |
School Kitchen Garden Subsidy | $24,000 | Environmental Education Project Budget | $8,000 per school (matched funding required by the school) | To deliver a Kitchen Garden program to improve food security, health and wellbeing, and resilience for local families. |
Solar Rebate | $20,000 | Environmental Education Project Budget | $500 per eligible household | To reduce financial barriers and increase the uptake of renewable energy across our LGA. |
Sub-total | $55,000 |
Have your say
In late 2021, Council sought your feedback on the draft Sustainability Small Grants and Rebates Program as part of public exhibition. The opportunity for feedback concluded at 5:00pm on Friday 28 October 2021.
If you need assistance, or you would you like information in another language or format, please contact the Project Team via 1300 617 058 or participate@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au.
If you would like to speak to someone over the phone in another language, call TIS National on 131 450 for a free interpreting service. Let them know you want to speak to City of Parramatta Council and your chosen language and they will connect you.
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市议会致力于确保每个人都能获得所需要的信息。如果您需要以其它语言或格式获取信息,请致电 1300 617 058 或发送电邮至 participate@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
如果您希望以其它语言进行电话交谈,请致电 131 450 联系 TIS 全国服务中心获取免费传译服务。告诉他们您想与 Parramatta 市议会通话和您选用的语言,他们就会为您接通。
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अगर आप फ़ोन पर किसी अन्य भाषा में बात करना चाहते/चाहती हैं, तो निःशुल्क दुभाषिया सेवा के लिए 131 450 पर TIS National को कॉल करें। उन्हें बताएं कि आप सिटी ऑफ़ पैरामाटा काउंसिल से अपनी चुनी हुई भाषा में बात करना चाहते/चाहती हैं और वे आपको कनेक्ट करेंगे।
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다른 언어로 전화 문의를 원하시면, 통번역 서비스(TIS National) 전화 131 450번으로 연락해 무료 통역을 이용하십시오. 파라마타 시 카운슬과 통화를 원한다고 말하고 해당 언어를 선택하시면 연결됩니다.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
One of the key strategies in Council’s Community Strategic Plan is to “promote energy and water efficiency, renewable energy sources, and reduced emissions and waste”. Council delivers a range of environmental educational programs and activities to deliver against these strategies, with the intent to engage, inform, and empower our communities so that they can adopt more sustainable practices.
The City of Parramatta Environmental Sustainability Strategy (2017) outlines our key environmental sustainability directions and priorities. Education and community engagement underpin the four pillars of our vision and priorities framework being, to be livable, productive, sustainable and leaders in the community. The provision of environmental education coupled with small financial incentives, work together to ensure our community has the best opportunity to make the necessary behaviour and attitude changes across the environmental sustainability spectrum.
Council has received grant funding for three of the initiatives (the Nappy and Sanitary Rebate, the Water Saving Partnership Subsidy for Business and the School Waste Grants) and administers the funds on behalf of the funding entity under agreed criteria, terms and conditions.
The final four initiatives (the Compost and Worm Farm Rebate, the School Environmental Education Grants, School Kitchen Garden Subsidy and Solar Rebate) are open to eligible households and schools across the LGA and funded from internal approved budgets under the Environmental Education and Domestic Waste Management budgets.
Each initiative addresses a specific area of need around waste and recycling, renewable energy, water and energy efficiency, biodiversity, food security and sustainable transport. These focus areas are identified through Council’s Community Environmental Behaviour Survey which is conducted every 2 years to collect information on attitudes and awareness related to the natural and built environment. Results are used to track community changes through time and to identify opportunities for improvement and future focus areas in Council’s education programs.
Applicants must be local to the City of Parramatta Local Government area and are able to apply for more than one grant or rebate.
All activities with the exception of the Water Saving Partnership program will have an open round public application process, and be promoted widely through Council's communication channels and social media. The Water Saving Partnership program will be an invitation round whereby only specific target businesses that have undertaken a precursor water savings audit will be invited to apply.
Educational activities are implemented through a range of mediums including print collateral, workshops, online tutorials, training, events, facilitated audits, incentive programs and promotions. For example, Council has recently trialled the use of small financial rebates to support our community in switching to reusable nappies and sanitary products with the intent to reduce waste. Funded through the NSW Government Better Waste and Recycling Fund, the trial saw 524 residents apply for the rebate, exhausting the allocated budget in only 4 months. Surveys with rebate recipients also demonstrated positive outcomes, with 64% of respondents stating that prior to the rebate, cost had been a barrier to switching to reusables, and 99% of respondents stating that they are (and would continue) using reusables.
The total cost of delivering these programs within the current 2021/22 financial year would be $155,000 and this will be managed by Council’s Waste & Sustainability team. This includes external funding of $40,000 from the NSW Government Better Waste and Recycling Fund, $30,000 from the SUEZ Waste Contract Education Budget, and $30,000 of funding from Sydney Water through their Water Saving Partnership Program.
The remaining $55,000 is covered within Council’s existing internal Operational Environmental Education and Domestic Waste Management budgets.
The overall financial impact on the current 2021/22 budget is Nil.