Do you have an idea for tackling a Territory waste management or pollution problem? Do you want to educate your students on the impacts of waste and pollution in the environment...or perhaps you are looking for an environmentally friendly way to raise funds for your local community?
The Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) might be able to help.
The NT EPA has just announced the launch of the 2016/ 2017 environment grants program, designed for this very purpose.
The environment grants program provides an opportunity for the community to apply for real dollars to tackle real environmental issues. The grants are available to Northern Territory schools and incorporated organisations wishing to conduct projects in the Northern Territory to manage waste and control pollution. Non-profit organisations, private enterprises, cooperatives, industry bodies, community councils and training providers are all invited to participate.
This year the grants program has three grants types: school grants, project grants and Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) infrastructure grants. The amount of funding for each grant type varies with up to $30,000 available for CDS infrastructure grants.
Environment grants have assisted in staging public events including the Garage Sail Trail, Great Northern Clean Up, Sustainable House Day and the Eco Fair in Alice Springs. Litchfield Council was able to offer a tyre amnesty and create waste education resources for schools in the area. Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation built composting toilets in environmentally sensitive areas and businesses have been able to use the grants to grow by using funds to provide recycling services in communities where none previously existed.
One of last year’s grants recipients, Braitling Primary School, used its funding to great result, creating a secure drop-off zone where members of the public could bring recyclables that can be redeemed though the Container Deposit Scheme. The school built a waste-sorting area were the students sort the schools waste for recycling and reuse. The grant provided the opportunity to educate students about the importance of recycling and provides an income stream through the containers redeemed under the Container Deposit Scheme.
To find more information on how you can participate in the environment grants program, visit the NT EPA website at www.ntepa.gov.au or contact the grants manager on 08 8924 4002.
Media: for further information contact Helen Farquhar 0437 458213