Victoria’s landfill levy system has helped us lower our impact on the environment, influenced industry investment in resource recovery infrastructure and encouraged people to find alternative, more innovative ways to dispose of their waste than landfill.
The Sustainability Fund, established under the Environment Protection Act 2017, receives money collected from the landfill levies to support projects, programs, services or technologies that will benefit Victoria environmentally, socially and economically.
2021-22 Sustainability Fund Activities Report - accessible version (DOCX, 1.8 MB)
How does the Sustainability Fund work?
The Municipal and Industrial Waste Levy (MIWL) was introduced to encourage recycling by putting a price on every tonne of waste that goes to landfill.
The levy is paid to the EPA by licensed landfill operators and deposited into the Municipal and Industrial Waste Levy Trust managed by DELWP.
This revenue is first used to fund core activities of key environmental agencies that are tackling issues such as waste management, recycling, sustainability, and climate change. These agencies include the EPA, Sustainability Victoria and the seven Waste and Resource Recovery Groups.
After funds are distributed to those agencies, the remaining revenue is transferred to the Sustainability Fund.
The fund plays a vital role in fostering the environmentally sustainable use of resources and best practices in waste management, as well as helping Victorians take action against the impacts of climate change.
How is the fund managed?
Funds are allocated for strategic initiatives which align with the purpose and priorities of the fund and delivered through government departments and statutory agencies.
Funding is not available for individuals.
Payments from the Sustainability Fund can only be made to foster:
- environmentally sustainable uses of resources and best practices in waste management
- community action or innovation to reduce greenhouse gas substance emissions, or adaptation to climate change in Victoria.
Preference is given to initiatives that align with the objectives of the Sustainability Fund and support employment, new technology and innovation, resource efficiency or ongoing behaviour change.
Funds are allocated with the joint consent of the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and the Premier and in accordance with the Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Sustainability Fund Priority Statement.
Read the
- Sustainability Fund Priority Statement 2020 (PDF, 355.3 KB)
- Sustainability Fund Priority Statement 2020 (DOCX, 259.1 KB)
During 2020–21, a total of $312.5 million was invested in waste management and climate change projects across the state.
Details of the allocation of funds are published in its Annual Report.
Funding guidelines
The guidelines outline how the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and the Premier of Victoria will exercise their powers in the application of monies from the Fund.
The Sustainability Fund Committee
The Sustainability Fund Committee oversees the fund’s management to support transparency and accountability, as well as providing impartial, strategic advice to the government on all budget bids seeking funding from Fund.
Sustainability Fund Activities Reports
Since its creation in 2005, the fund has supported businesses, local governments and communities through a range of waste management, recycling, resource efficiency and climate change programs. Find out more in our previous reports.
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Page last updated: 01/09/23