The Government has introduced new funding to help councils manage waste after emergency events. This includes support for fixing or replacing damaged waste infrastructure and dealing with waste that could be harmful to people or the environment.
The funding request process is simple and fast, so councils can access support quickly.
The funding is designed to ease the pressure on councils and ratepayers and will be especially helpful for councils with limited resources. Funding is only available to local authorities – not directly to businesses or residents.
Emergency waste funding isn’t mean to replace insurance. We encourage councils to keep their insurance cover up to date, as the funding is designed to help with extra costs that go beyond normal emergency planning. It would usually only cover up to 60 per cent of eligible expenses.
This change comes after updates to the Waste Minimisation Act 2008, which now allows the waste disposal levy to be used more flexibly, including for emergency waste.
Read more about the emergency waste funding.