Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund Information and Application Process

Introduction Through the $35 million Conserve, Invest and Save strategy, the Victorian Government is committed to reinvesting landfill levy revenue into the waste industry to improve the industry’s capacity to recover resources that would otherwise be sent to landfill.

What is the Resource Recovery Infrastructure fund?

The $6.5 million Resource Recovery Infrastructure fund will provide funding to organisations to install infrastructure to process more than 100,000 tonnes of waste per annum mainly from the commercial and industrial sector.

Focus of fund is the commercial and industrial sector waste

The focus of the Resource Recovery Infrastructure fund is to encourage the installation of infrastructure to recover, treat or use commercial and industrial sector waste. The commercial and industrial sector waste is defined as solid waste

generated from trade, commercial and industrial activities including the government sector

It includes waste from offices, manufacturing, factories, schools, universities, state and government operations and small to medium businesses (for example, food waste)

To achieve the processing target of more than 100,000 tonnes of waste per year, commercial and industrial sector waste is able to be augmented with waste from municipal solid waste (MSW) or construction and demolition (C&D) sector waste

Why is the program required?

Approximately 1.3 million tonnes of waste from the commercial and industrial sector is being sent to licensed landfills1.

In Victoria there are no large materials recovery facilities that either sort mixed recyclables or recover recyclables from the commercial and industrial landfill waste stream.

It is estimated that commercial and industrial sector waste sent to landfill includes about:

240,000 tonnes of paper and cardboard 210,000 tonnes of plastic 170,000 tonnes of timber 28,000 tonnes of metal 26,000 tonnes of glass 320,000 tonnes of food, garden and other organics 306,000 tonnes of other waste such as textiles, bricks and asphalt

Commercial and industrial sector waste management is characterised by mixed waste, short term contracts, and a diverse range of market players.

1 From Towards Zero Waste model, using 2009-10 data from the Victorian Recycling Industries recycling survey, unpublished

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Available funding

Funding of between $1 million to $4 million is available for infrastructure capital costs. This is to install infrastructure to process more than 100,000 tonnes of waste per year when fully operational.

The target recovery and/or use rate should be 75 per cent, mainly from the commercial and industrial sector.

The Fund’s objectives

The objectives are to: encourage the installation of infrastructure to recover large amounts of

commercial and industrial sector waste create new and sustainable employment encourage private sector investment for an improved standard of waste

infrastructure strengthen markets for recovered waste material in Victoria

The eligibility criteria

To be eligible, all projects must: Process 100,000 tonnes of waste or more per year with a target

recovery rate or use of waste of at least 75 percent mainly from the commercial and industrial sector, by:

o sorting and separating mixed commercial and industrial sector waste streams to recover recyclable material and/or

o managing, treating or stabilising commercial and industrial sector-derived organics and/or

o treating the residual commercial and industrial sector waste stream to produce processed engineered fuels or energy

Install, commission and be processing and recovering the required levels of waste by 30 June 2016

Be a legal entity and have a current Australian Business Number (ABN) Meet the co-contribution requirement of the fund Be willing to provide information to the Victorian Recycling Industries

Annual Survey

The selection criteria

Proposals will be assessed on how well the following criteria can be met: A high level of control over feedstock Established markets for end products The technology, operational efficacy and effectiveness of the proposed

infrastructure is proven in the Australian context Proposed site of the infrastructure is fit-for-purpose Proposed infrastructure is financial viable in the long term Key stakeholders and communities have been identified and

engagement and management strategies developed Logistics of sourcing feedstock and delivering recovered material or

processed waste is efficient and effective

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Company due diligence, including legal and regulatory issues, of the organisation’s capability to deliver and a demonstration that the proposal has cross-organisational support and aligns with the applicant’s core business plan

Matched funding

Projects are required, as a minimum, to have matched funding in the ratio of 25% Sustainability Victoria to 75% industry (i.e. $1 SV: $3 for industry).

Examples of suitable projects

Examples of projects that will be considered include: Pre-sort infrastructure, which may be located at the front of landfills,

resource recovery facilities or at strategically located collection points, to process residual commercial and industrial sector waste to recover recyclables (e.g. paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, metals and timber)

Infrastructure to stabilise commercial and industrial sector organics through mechanical biological treatment or anaerobic processing

Infrastructure to manage, treat or recover commercial and industrial sector-derived organics (such as using anaerobic digesters) through the installation of precinct or wider scale solutions management and treatment of organics

Processing infrastructure to treat the residual commercial and industrial sector waste stream to produce process engineered fuel products or energy

Types of projects that cannot be considered for funding

Funding will not be provided for: Projects that do not meet the objectives of the fund, the eligibility and

selection criteria Activities that do not directly contribute to increased diversion of

commercial and industrial sector recyclable waste materials from landfill including, but not limited to, education activities, training, feasibility studies, audit activities

Project management costs Projects not located in Victoria Hazardous waste E-waste projects Where applicant organisations have failed to address a breach of the

Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) or Environment Protection Act 1970 (Vic)

Projects that cannot reasonably gain Environment Protection Authority Victoria works approvals and/or planning permits within program timelines

Expressions of interest submitted after the closing date Requests for retrospective funding, where projects have commenced

construction or are completed prior to receiving funding approval (where construction includes, but is not limited to, site clearing, earthworks and building works)

The purchase of land

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Projects that require on-going funding or support other than the initial grant

On-going operational costs such as, but not limited to, salaries, electricity, water and other utilities

Routine or cyclical maintenance works Repair of facilities damaged by vandalism, fire or other natural disasters

where the damage should be covered by insurance Pre-construction activities, such as: site clearing, earthworks or site

accessibility works Costs associated with the purchase of transport equipment or any other

type of vehicle Organisations that have failed to complete any previous projects funded

by Sustainability Victoria

Application process

The application process in in two stages:

Stage 1 – Expression of Interest

Stage 2 – Detailed business case

Expression of Interest

Stage 1 – From 26 November 2012 to 15 March 2013Eligible organisations are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) that will include a preliminary business case to be competitively assessed by a panel of senior industry and government representatives.

The assessment panel may also draw on advice from relevant technical experts and/or request an applicant to provide a presentation on their proposal.

Projects assessed as having best met the fund’s objectives and selection criteria will be recommended to progress to Stage 2.

An organisation recommended to progress to Stage 2 will have a financial and organisational assessment to determine its capacity to deliver the project within the term of funding (2013 to 2016).

Depending on the number and quality of the Expressions of Interest, Sustainability Victoria may enter negotiations directly with one or more applicants to build on proposals to achieve the fund’s objectives.

Stage 2 of the application

Stage2 – May to August 2013Shortlisted applicants will be offered initial funding to assist with the development of a full business case.

The business case will form the basis for the final application funding. The business case will be assessed by a panel of senior industry and government experts who may also draw on advice from relevant technical experts. Applicants may also be requested to give a presentation on their proposal to the assessment panel.

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The submission of a business case does not guarantee funding.

Who can submit and expression of interest

The Resource Recovery Infrastructure fund is open to the Victorian waste processing and recycling sector.

The applicant must be a legal entity and have a current Australian Business Number (ABN).

Resource Recovery Infrastructure fund timelines

The process The timeline

Expression of Interest (Stage 1) opens Wednesday, 28 November 2012

Information session 2.00 to 4.00pm Wednesday, 12 December 2012

Expression of Interest (Stage 1) closes 3.00 pm, Friday, 15 March 2013

Applicants notified of outcome of Expression of Interest Late May 2013

Stage 2 – Development of detailed business case

Late May 2013 to Friday, 30 August 2013

Stage 2 – Submission of detailed business case close date Friday, 30 August 2013

Announcement of successful projects Late November 2013

Contracting From late November 2013

Infrastructure to be processing and recovering the required levels of waste 30 June 2016

The application form

Eligible organisations must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) using the attached form and attaching a Project Summary and Preliminary Business Case.

Provide an indicative project budget at Stage 1

Include an indicative budget as part of the Expression of Interest.

If your project is shortlisted for Stage 2, you will be required to submit a fully substantiated budget as part of the detailed business case.

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Information session

An information session will be held at Sustainability Victoria – Level 28, 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne

Date: Wednesday 12 December Time - 2.00 to 4.00 pm

Registering to attend the information session is required by email to:grants.enquires@sustainability.vic.gov.au no later than 24 hours before the session.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the information session prior to submitting an Expression of Interest.

Sustainability Victoria representatives will attend to offer support in developing your idea and will explain in more detail the purpose and priorities of the funding.

Expression of Interest opening and closing dates

Expression of Interest period opens: Wednesday, 28 November 2012

Expression of Interest period closes: 3.00pm, Friday, 15 March 2013

Late Expressions of Interest will not be considered.

The steps to make an application

1. Register to attend the information session to assist you to prepare your Expression of Interest.

2. Complete the Expression of Interest form.

3. Ensure you respond to all information requirements by addressing each question.

4. Prepare and attach your Project Summary and Preliminary Business Case.

5. Complete the Expression of Interest form preparation self-assessment checklist.

6. Submit your Expression of Interest by 3pm on Friday, 15 March 2013 by email to:

grants.applications@sustainability.vic.gov.au

Note: The subject line of the email should be:

“Resource Recovery Infrastructure – <your organisation name – project name>”

The format for an application

Documents should be submitted in Microsoft Word Format, with the exception of the Declaration page which should be signed and scanned and attached as a PDF.

Only include one Expression of Interest in each email.

Ensure your email does exceed 10 MB in size.

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For more information

Contact Sustainability Victoria by email on: grants.enquiries@sustainability.vic.gov.au or

Call the infoline on 1300 363 744

Frequently asked questions will be updated regularly on: www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/funding

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Expression of InterestResource Recovery Infrastructure Fund

Section 1 – Contact information Part A: Applicant’s organisation details Fields marked (*) are mandatory

* Name of Organisation:     

* Main Street Address:     

* Town / Suburb:       * Postcode:       * State:      

Postal Address (if different from above):

Postal Address:      

Town / Suburb:       Postcode:       State:      

Authorised person (This is the person who is authorised by the organisation to make the application on their behalf)

* Title:       * First name:      

* Last name:       Position:      

* Telephone:       Mobile:      

Fax:       Email:      

* Type of Organisation

Corporation Unincorporated

Other (please specify)      

Applicant’s Australian Business Number (ABN):      

Part B: Contact Details for Project Manager

Title:      First name:      

Last name:      

Postal address:      

Town / Suburb:       Postcode:       State:      

Telephone:       Mobile:      

Fax:       Email:      

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Section 2 – Project overviewProject nameWe will use this name on all correspondence. Please use 10 words or less.

     

This project will install infrastructure to:

Sort and separate mixed commercial and industrial sector waste to recover recyclable material

Manage, treat or stabilise commercial and industrial-derived organics

Treat the residual waste stream to produce process engineered fuels or energy

Other

If Other, please provide a short description of the purpose of the infrastructure:      

(Tick appropriate box or boxes)

Where will your project be located? Please provide the address of where the infrastructure is to be located (including town / suburb and postcode)

Address:      

Will your project service a specific area, region or facility? YES NO

If Yes, indicate which area, region or facility your project will service      

Are you the owner or do you have leasehold over the proposed site? YES NO

If No, briefly describe your proposed arrangement to site the infrastructure      

Is this site 'fit-for-purpose'? YES NO

If No, briefly describe what is required to make the site 'fit-for-purpose'      

Do you have appropriate planning and works approval permits for the project on this site?

YES NO

If No, estimate time taken and cost associated with obtaining permits      

What are your project timelines?(Note: Funding will not be allocated until the 2013/2014 Financial Year and the project must be completed, commissioned and processing the required levels of waste by 30 June 2016.)

Anticipated project start date:      

Anticipated project completion date (i.e. commissioned and fully operational):      

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What is the quantity of waste to be processed through the infrastructure?

When fully operational, what will be the minimum tonnes per annum of waste to be processed?

      tonnes

Is the waste to be processed currently sent to a landfill in Victoria that is licensed under the Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises and Exemptions) Regulations 2007 and subject to the Victorian Landfill Levy?

YES NO

If No, briefly describe where the waste is currently sent, processed or landfilled:      

When fully operational, what will be the minimum tonnes per annum of commercial and industrial sector waste processed?       tonnes

What proportion of waste processed per annum will be commercial and industrial sector waste?       %

What is the expected percentage rate of recovery of waste processed per annum?       % (Note: ‘recovery’ is defined to include the waste material captured for reuse and recycling or processed as a fuel for energy.)

What is the expected percentage amount of waste to be processed as fuel products or energy generation per annum?       %

Section 3 – Project summary and preliminary business case

This section is in two parts

You are required to provide the following information:

Part 1 – Project summary; and

Part 2 – Preliminary project business case

Part 1Project summary

Requires you to write an overview of your project, including: what it will achieve

the types of waste to be recovered

the infrastructure to be installed

the feedstock sources

the end markets for recovered or processed material; and how the project integrates into your business model or plan.

Part 2Preliminary business case

Requires you to provide a preliminary business case for your project.

The information will be used by the Assessment Panel to determine the likely technical and operational strength and viability of the project.

A series of headings and descriptions are provided below to use as a guide to the type of information required.

The headings are a guide only and the information you provide can be grouped in a different manner or order.

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How will this information be used?

The project summary and the preliminary business case will inform the assessment panel about whether your project will be shortlisted for consideration in Stage 2 of the application process.

The assessment panel will be looking for evidence of the capability of the project to achieve the fund’s objectives and selection criteria to:

encourage the installation of infrastructure to recover significant amounts of commercial and industrial sector waste

create new and sustainable employment encourage private sector investment in an improved standard of

waste infrastructure strengthen markets for recovered waste material in Victoria have a high level of control over feedstock have established markets for end products the technology, operational efficacy and effectiveness of the

proposed infrastructure is proven in the Australian context the extent the proposed site of the infrastructure is fit-for-purpose the long term financial viability of the proposal the extent key stakeholders and communities have been identified

and engagement and management strategies developed the extent that the logistics of sourcing feedstock and delivering

recovered material or processed waste is efficient and effective capability of the applicant to deliver the project and the alignment

of the proposal with the applicant’s business plan

Instructions to complete Section 3

Provide your ‘Project summary’ and your ‘Preliminary business case’ as an attachment to your Expression of Interest and these attachments are clearly marked

“Resource Recovery Infrastructure <your organisation name – project name> Preliminary Business Case”.

Note: Your project summary and preliminary business case must not exceed 22 pages.

Additional information can be included in further attachments; however these attachments will be optional reading for the assessment panel. Note the size limit for your email

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PART 1Project Summary Information

This is a synopsis of the project.

For example, you will need to discuss the following points: What are you going to do? What equipment/infrastructure will be installed? What will the infrastructure do? What will the project achieve? What quantity of commercial and industrial sector waste will be

processed through the infrastructure each year? Where will the feedstock be sourced? Where will the material recovered or processed be sold or used? Will other organisations be involved in delivering the project? Capability of the organisation to deliver? Alignment of the project with your business strategy

Note: Only provide a maximum of two pages for your project summary.

PART 2A guide to assist you to write your preliminary business case

Below are suggested headings and descriptions for the preliminary Business Case.

Note: the headings and descriptions are a guide only and the information you provide can be grouped in a different manner or order to reflect the type and nature of the proposed project.

Preliminary Business Case

Suggested headings for the Preliminary Business Case:

1. Project deliverablesDescribe the operational, technical, financial and environmental outcomes of the project. What quantity of commercial and industrial sector waste will be processed through the infrastructure each year? What will be the rate of recovery of material?

2. Implementation approachDescribe the infrastructure to be installed, project schedule, siting issues, planning and approval considerations (including EPA and other approvals), environmental management requirements, contingency plans regarding feedstock supply and end markets, operational approach. That is, the planned daily throughput and number of shifts.

3. Project timingIdentify your project’s milestones.

4. Budget analysisExplain the estimated project costs breakdown including costs of:

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planning, construction, commissioning and costs for project pay-back period analysis and expected revenue.

5. Commercial and industrial sector waste analysisProvide information such as: sources of feedstock, opportunities and threats to feedstock supply, contingency plans addressing quantity and quality of feedstock.

6. End product market analysisProvide information such as: market assessment, availability and the location, size and strength of markets for proposed end products, contingency plans addressing changes in markets.

7. Critical assumptions and / or constraintsExplain the critical operational, technological, feedstock (tonnage and composition), end market and pricing assumptions and constraints, to what extent are these sensitive to change.

8. Risk analysis and managementProvide information about the analysis of technological, feedstock supply, end market and siting and community acceptance risks and management strategies, strategies to address delays in equipment delivery and/or installation; construction delays.

9. Stakeholder identification and issuesProvide information about roles and legal status of project partners, communities that may be affected by the infrastructure and your stakeholder and community management strategies.

10. Other impacts from the projectDescribe the expected environmental, social and economic impacts of the infrastructure; (including transport) and the costs and benefits of the project?

11. Other options consideredDiscuss if other options have been considered. What are the advantages and disadvantages of these other options?

Note: Provide a maximum of 20 pages for your preliminary business plan

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Section 4 – Compliance and Legal

1 Have your organisation received a penalty, notice, prosecution or regulatory intervention from the Environment Protection Authority or WorkSafe Victoria or been in breach of any other environmental, OH&S, safety or other legislation or regulations in the last 10 years?

Yes No

If Yes, provide details:     

2 Have you any current investigations, notices, prosecutions, regulatory intervention or enforcement action against it arising out of a possible breach of any environmental, OH&S, safety or other legislation or regulations?

Yes No

If Yes, provide details:     

3 Do you agree to provide information to the Sustainability Victoria Victorian Recycling Industry Annual Survey? This is essential for the EOI to meet eligibility criteria Yes No

4 Do you acknowledge that Sustainability Victoria may undertake checks with Environment Protection Authority, WorkSafe Victoria or other regulators about its environmental, OH&S, or other regulatory performance?

Yes No

Conflict of InterestNo current or potential conflict of interest exists

We disclose the following conflict/s of interest and indicate below how we propose to manage it/them.

Please provide details of conflict/s of interest and mitigation strategies

     

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Section 5 – Project BudgetPlease provide an indication of income and expenditure for your project, excluding GST. Note that the total income must equal total expenditure.

Project Income

Amount requested from SV towards capital costs $     Your contribution towards capital costs $     Your non-capital and in-kind contribution $     Other contributions $     TOTAL INCOME $     

Project Expenditure

Project management including salaries $     

Capital costs/purchase of equipment $     

Installation cost $     

Other associated costsProvide brief details:      

$     

TOTAL EXPENDITURE $     

Has your organisation or is your organisation applying for grant funding from any other source in relation to this project?

YesNo

If Yes, please provide brief details:      

The Checklist I have completed the self-assessment checklist (see attached checklist)

The Declaration is signed by an officer authorised to make this application on behalf of my organisation

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DECLARATION

This page is to be printed, signed, scanned and returned with the email submission.

I       (insert name) state that:

The information in this application and attachments is to the best of my knowledge true and correct.

I will notify Sustainability Victoria of any changes to this information and any circumstances that may affect this application.

I acknowledge that Sustainability Victoria may refer this application to external experts or other Government Departments for assessment, reporting, advice, comment or for discussions.

I understand that Sustainability Victoria is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) and that if a Freedom of Information request is made, Sustainability Victoria will consult with the applicant before any decision is made to release the application or supporting documentation.

I understand that this is an expression of interest only and may not necessarily result in funding approval.

I agree to provide Sustainability Victoria all such information as reasonably required to assess our financial viability and also agree to undertake an independent third party financial viability check if deemed necessary by Sustainability Victoria.

Signature: Date:     

Print name:     Position:     

(To be signed by a person with delegated authority to apply - i.e. Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer)

Privacy StatementSustainability Victoria collects, uses and discloses your personal information for the purposes of this grants’ program and in accordance with our Privacy Statement.

Sustainability Victoria’s Privacy Statement is available from www.sustainability.vic.gov.au.

If you have any questions relating to the Privacy Statement or wish to seek access to the personal information which Sustainability Victoria holds about you, please contact us in writing by emailing: privacy@sustainability.vic.gov.au

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Resource Recovery Infrastructure Expression of Interest Preparation ChecklistThis assessment is to assist you ensure that your expression of interest provides the required information.

Proposal meets the Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund objectives:Proposal will install infrastructure to recover significant amounts of commercial and industrial sector waste

Installation of infrastructure will create new and sustainable employment

Project brings about private sector investment in improved standard of waste infrastructure

Project will strengthen markets for recovered waste in Victoria

Proposal meets the Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund eligibility criteriaThe proposed infrastructure will process 100,000 tonnes per annum, or greater, of primarily commercial and industrial waste

The proposed infrastructure will recover or use commercial and industrial waste at a rate of 75% or greater of the amount processed

The infrastructure will be installed, commissioned and processing commercial and industrial waste by 30 June 2016

The applicant organisation is a legal entity

The ABN of the applicant organisation is provided

The funding requested from Sustainability Victoria is within the co-contribution limits (i.e. $1 SV to $3 applicant/s)

The organisation submitting this expression of interest will contribute to the Victorian Recycling Industries annual survey

Proposal addresses the Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund selection criteriaThere will be a high level of control over feedstock

Markets for end products are established

The proposed site of the infrastructure is fit-for-purpose

The critical assumptions are identified and tested

Key stakeholders and affected communities have been identified and engagement strategies developed

The logistics of sourcing and supplying markets is efficient and effective

The proposal aligns with your organisation’s business plan

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Expression of interest provides the specific information requiredYou have identified the key purpose/s of the infrastructure to: Sort and separate mixed commercial and industrial sector waste to recover recyclable

material and/or

Manage, treat or stabilise commercial and industrial-derived organics and/or

Treat the residual waste stream to produce process engineered fuels or energy

The proposal does not seek funding for items that are out of scope

Applicant organisation and project manager contact details (Section 1) are provided

Project overview detail (Section 2) are provided

Project timeline details (Section 2) are provided

The estimated quantity of waste to be processed through the infrastructure and the estimated rate of recovery (Section 2) have been provided

The Project Summary and Preliminary Business Case addressing the required information (Section 3) have been attached

Compliance and legal section (Section 4) completed

Project budget (Section 5) information provided

Declaration completed and signed and scanned and attached as a PDF

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