Myall Lakes MP Stephen Bromhead has welcomed the NSW Government Bin Trim grant of $280,000 to HunterNet, a Newcastle-based company that services a wide area including the Port Stephens and Great Lakes local government areas.

Mr Bromhead said the Bin Trim grants help small-to-medium business improve recycling rates and divert waste from landfill.

“Bin Trim grant recipients will use their money to fund more than 100 waste assessors to provide advice to businesses on recycling and cost reduction opportunities as part of the NSW Government’s flagship $465.7 million Waste Less Recycle More initiative,” Mr Bromhead said.

“I am delighted to welcome this grant to help a local business to increase recycling and cut costs.

“These Bin Trim grants provide thousands of businesses across NSW access to tap into new opportunities to reduce waste to landfill and boost recycling.

“A condition of the grant is that HunterNet will contribute $83,032 to target the accommodation, education, food services, manufacturing, offices, retail, services sectors.

“This is great news for residents and businesses in Port

Stephens and Great Lakes as any reduction in landfill is very welcome,” Mr Bromhead said.

Bin Trim assessments provide businesses with an onsite analysis and a tailored Waste Reduction Action Plan, which includes practical and affordable options to increase recycling. The assessments can result in recommendations to increase recycling such as new signage to educate employees about correct waste disposal and separation practices through to new infrastructure, such as balers or crushers.

Businesses that receive a free Bin Trim assessment are eligible to apply for a share of the government’s $9.4 million Bin Trim rebate program to help cover up to 50 per cent of new recycling infrastructure costs. Businesses are eligible to apply for a rebate only if they undergo a Bin Trim assessment.

Environment Minister Mark Speakman said an estimated 70 per cent of waste that business sent to landfill could be recycled, including paper, plastics, cardboard, wood, glass and food waste.

“This is the second round of the government’s successful Bin Trim business grants program which provided more than 7,000 assessments to small-to-medium businesses across NSW in the first round,” Mr Speakman said.

“The first round of assessments identified a potential 555 million litres of waste that could be diverted from landfill each year, which helped businesses save an average $3,000 a year in waste disposal costs.”

To find a Bin Trim assessor in your area visit: epa.nsw.gov.au/bintrim