KAB
78 local communities around the nation have been awarded a Keep Australia Beautiful Beverage Container Recycling Grant - a threefold increase on the 23 grants awarded in 2011.
The Keep Australia Beautiful community grants program, funded by Coca-Cola , is now in its third year and has seen a major injection of additional funds to help local communities implement initiatives to increase beverage container recycling.
Group photo, from L to R, Steve Allen (Tiwi Islands), Jonathan Lora (East Arnhem Shire Council), Michael Borg (CCA), Jeff Colver (Coomalie Community Government Council), Dyanne Allport (City of Palmerston).
Coca-Cola has provided a significant increase in grant funding for 2012 projects, with $500,000 made available to community groups, councils and schools across Australia for local community projects.
The grants were open to all communities across Australia with up to $10,000 per applicant available for projects that could demonstrate they would result in a measurable diversion of beverage containers out of landfill, through increased recycling in local communities with a particular focus on out and about areas.
Example initiatives include recycling infrastructure and signage at community events, in sporting or retail venues, shopping strips or education centres, essentially locations where large crowds
gather and the provision of recycling infrastructure helps the public place their recycled material in the right bin. .
According to Peter McLean, Keep Australia Beautiful National Executive Officer, "The increased funding for 2012 will allow more local communities around the country to play an active role in increasing the recovery and recycling of beverage containers in their local area, help keep them out of landfill and ensure material is recycled and re used".
"The measurable outcomes that have been achieved by the recipients over the past two years clearly demonstrate how these grants are assisting local communities in becoming more sustainable with their waste management. This benefits both the community and the environment in a positive, results driven way", he added.
To date, the Beverage Container Recycling Community Grants Program has resulted in almost $800,000 being distributed through the Keep Australia Beautiful Network to over 125 community groups, councils, schools and other organisations Australia wide.
The 2012 Community Grant Recipients include:
NSW - 17 recipients
Albury City Council, Lavington Swim Centre, Rotary Club of Cobar, Ku-Ring-Gia Council, Lismore City Council, Broken Hill Council, Ellalong Tidy Town, Great Lakes Council, Hurstville City Council, Lake Macquarie Council, Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Shellharbour City Council, Surf Life Saving NSW, Tamworth Regional Council, Tropical Fruits Inc. Lismore, V8 Supercars, Wagga Wagga City Council.
VIC - 12 recipients
Melton Shire Council, City of Monash, McClelland College Frankston, Sale Tennis Club, South Gippsland Shire Council, City of Whittlesea, Ararat Rural City Council, Mitchell Shire Council, Northern Grampians Shire Council, Frankston City Council, Melbourne Girls Collect, Central Murray Regional Waste Management Group.
QLD - 13 recipients
Mackay Secondary High School, Homestead Secondary School, Laura Secondary School, Gin Secondary School, Redland City Council, Scarborough Secondary School, Pentland Secondary School, Bundaberg SLSC, Xceler8 Media Inc., Townsville City Netball, Border Rivers Catchment Management Association, Sacred Heart School Sandgate, Rainbow Bay SLSC.
WA - 10 recipients
Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale, Shire of Corrigin, Shire of Chapman Valley, Australian Association for Environmental Education WA, Shire of Woodanilling, City of Gosnells, City of Cockburn, Gnaraloo Station Trust, Care for Hedland Environmental Association, Project Shorelines.
SA - 14 recipients
Friends of Port Moorowie, Tatachilla Lutheran Collect, Penfield Golf Club, Point Turton Progress Association, Finding Workable Solutions, District Council of Robe, Tennis Millswood Complex, Port Vincent Tidy Towns, Surf Lifesaving National Carnival, Walker Flat Progress Association, Minda Inc, Hutt Street Centre, Seaford Shopping Centre, Two Wells Scouts.
TAS - 6 recipients
Glenorchy City Council, Launceston City Council, Marist Regional College, Penguin Football Club,
St Mary's Collect Hobart, Glamorgan Spring Bay Council.
ACT - 2 recipients
Orana Steiner School, Pegasus.
NT - 4 recipients
Palmerston City Council, East Arnhem Shire Council, Coomalie Council, Tiwi Islands Shire
Council.