Environmental Grants and Rebates

Discover the benefits of reducing waste with the reduce, reuse and recycle rebate.

There are three categories of the Reduce, Reuse Recycle Rebate.

• Compost bin and worm farm rebate
• Reusable sanitary and incontinence products
• Reusable nappies and nursing products

How to apply?

Step 1

Read our terms and conditions (see below) before making your purchase.

Step 2

Head online or in person to a retailer to purchase your eligible items.

Keep your receipt as proof of purchase.

Step 3

Within the financial year of purchase, submit your Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Rebate Application form to Council using our online application form at the link below:

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Rebate Application Form

You will be asked to attach your receipt, bank details and proof of residency.

Terms and Conditions

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, you must be a resident living permanently in the Baw Baw Shire.

• All households within Baw Baw Shire are eligible for the rebate, this includes ratepayers, tenants and renters.
• Each category of the rebate can only be claimed once per household (i.e. 1 x rebate for reusable nappies and nursing products, 1 x rebate for reusable sanitary and incontinence products, 1 x rebate for a compost bin or worm farm).
• Once a category of the rebate has been claimed, it cannot be claimed again from the same resident or household for the duration of the program. This includes if a resident moves to a new residence.
• Rebates only apply to listed products. Postage, shipping and other fees are not included.
• You must live in Baw Baw Shire Council and provide proof of residency to be eligible for the rebate. Any products purchased must be used at your residential address.
• You must submit a separate application for each category.
• Applications must be completed within the same financial year of making your purchase (In the 2025/26 financial year items must be purchased from May 2026 – from the commencement of the rebate scheme).
• The tax invoice receipt must be:
  • whole and not a partial copy
  • legible
  • in Australian dollars
• The tax invoice receipt must include:
  • Company Name and ABN
  • Purchase Date
  • Item name
  • Cost
• For online orders, proof of how much you spent is required. If your invoice does not show this, you should provide other evidence of the cost.
• The rebate payment to an applicant will be made by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to a nominated bank account.
• Applications are to be submitted online. If an applicant does not have computer access, entries can be completed by contacting Council on 1300 229 229
• Council holds the right to reject any application.
• Council is not responsible for the quality or efficacy of compost bins, cloth nappies or reusable sanitary products. Any issues must be directed to the retailer/supplier.
• Council will not be responsible for any application that is late, lost, incomplete, invalid or corrupted and these applications may be deemed ineligible.
• Council holds no responsibility for following up missing information supplied by the applicant. 
• Applicants that have previously received the compost bin and worm farm rebate, will not be eligible for the compost bin and worm farm category in the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Rebate. Applicants will be eligible for the remaining rebate categories.
• Rebates are restricted to an allocated annual budget. Council reserves the right to end this rebate offer if this annual budget allocation is fully utilised.

The aim of the program is to provide rural landowners and community groups with funds for native tree planting projects, for rehabilitation of existing native vegetation, wildlife corridors, shelterbelts or waterways.

For relevant details refer to the Funding Guidelines on the Rural Tree Grant Application Form(PDF, 155KB) or email the Natural Environment team.

Weed control grants are available to help new landholders and community groups control Declared Noxious weeds on private land.

Declared Noxious weeds are plants which have been listed under the Catchment and Land Protection Act with the requirement for a landholder to control or eradicate these weeds.

Funding Categories

Funding is available for the following categories of approved weed control works:

Purchasing herbicide if the landowner holds a current Agricultural Users Permit (ACUP)

Supply is limited to non-restricted herbicides such as Metsulfuron methyl for control of blackberries and ragwort.  Some herbicides are classified ‘restricted use’ (eg. Garlon and Grazon) and legally require the person applying the chemical to have an Agricultural Chemical Users Licence (ACUP).  These will only be available to those who have a current ACUP.

A disclaimer will need to be signed by the applicant to acknowledge that:

As the recipient of the herbicide the Indemnifier (you) agrees to indemnify and to keep indemnified, and to hold harmless the Council, its servants and agents, and each of them from against all actions, costs, claims, charges, expenses, penalties, demands and damages whatsoever which may be brought or made or claimed against them, or any of them, arising out of, or in relation to the Indemnifier’s performance or purported performance as the recipient of the herbicide as supplied by the Council and is directly related to negligent acts, errors or omissions of the Indemnifier. The Indemnifier’s liability to indemnify the Council will be reduced proportionally to the extent that any act of omission of the Council, its servants or agents, contributed to the loss or liability.

 (Maximum funding - $50 for properties below 5 Ha, $100 for properties over 5 Ha or community groups).

Hiring contractors

To be eligible funding, landowners must employ a licensed spray contractor.

Maximum funding:

• $50 for properties between 0.5 Ha and 2 Ha
• $100 for properties between 2 Ha and 5 Ha
• $200 for properties over 5 Ha or community groups. 

Eligibility criteria

The grant is available for new landowners in rural areas and community groups, for example Landcare and "friends of" groups within Baw Baw Shire that clearly demonstrate a need for funding.

Preference will be given to landholders who meet the following selection criteria:

• The landholder has recently purchased a property with historic problems with Declared Noxious weeds such as blackberries, thistles and ragwort.
• The landholder will be working with neighbours or community groups – Landcare or Friends Groups to control weeds on a larger scale.
• The landholder wishes to control significant weeds in areas of high biodiversity value on private property.

Only one grant is available per landowner and is limited to annual funding availability.

Use of Chemicals

• Always consider natural or chemical free options first, for example - grazing animals, slashing.
• The chemical must be registered for use to control the targeted weed.
• The chemical must be used at the application rate and in the prescribed manner as directed on the chemical label.
• To ensure safe and efficient use, the chemical should be applied in accordance with the Code of Good Practice for Farm Chemical Spray Application.
• Always refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet prior to using chemicals.
• All safety precautions must be taken, including the wearing of protective clothing, appropriate storage and disposal of the chemical and ensuring there is no off-target damage.
• Choose the chemical that will do the job, be the least toxic to the operator, and most beneficial to insects, including bees, and the environment.
• Some chemicals are classified ‘restricted use’ (e.g. Grazon, Garlon) and legally require the person applying the chemical to have a current ACUP.

Preferred agricultural supplier

• Brown and Wigg, 125 North Rd, Warragul. Ph: 56236911
• Yarragon Grain and Produce, Ph: 56232434
  • 147 Queen St Warragul
  • Main Rd Neerim Sth
  • 7 Mile Rd Trafalgar

Listed spray contractors

• Bayles Spraying, Bayles. Ph: 0438135924
• Dale Morris, Seaview. Ph: 0409106108
• JGH Contracting, Rokeby. Ph: 0438045309
• G and A Spraying, Morwell. Ph: 0420684225
• Habitat Creations, Yarragon. Ph: 0409783866

Application Process

You can apply by downloading and printing the application form(PDF, 88KB) and submitting it in hard copy to a Council Customer Service Centre or emailing a copy to Tree.Grants@bawbawshire.vic.gov.au

If successful, the applicant will be notified by phone or email within four weeks of submitting the application.

A copy of form will be sent to nominated supplier / contractor.

Successful applicants will need to collect herbicide from local suppliers.

When works are complete the supplier / contractor will invoice Council for payment