The NSW Government has committed funding to new circular economy projects through the Circular Economy Challenge Program. The initiative, announced by Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Alister Henskens and Minister for Environment and Heritage James Griffin, aims to remove barriers, foster innovation, and create sustainable supply chains that reduce waste and generate new jobs. The announcement coincided with the Australia Circular Economy Forum hosted by NSW Circular.
The program will provide support to projects led by researchers, companies and local government, with grants of $200,000 allocated to each and matched by partner funding. These projects demonstrate practical applications of circular economy principles across healthcare, construction and manufacturing, and are intended to position NSW as a leader in zero-waste innovation.
The funding recipients include:
- A hospital recycling project converting non-woven polypropylene waste, such as gowns, masks and curtains, into plastic briquettes for reuse in new products. Partners: UTS, UNSW Sydney, Multigate Medical Products, 180 Waste Group, Allmoulds Plastic Group, and South Western Sydney Local Health District.
- A brick manufacturing project repurposing municipal organic waste into durable, low-emission bricks. Partners: Western Sydney University, Macquarie University, Global Renewables, Austral Brick Co, and Parramatta City Council.
