4 Funding Categories
The CleanBC Plastics Action Fund will support new projects that fall under four main funding categories, with the following desired scopes and outcomes:
- Increase BC’s processing capacity to produce
more plastic products with PCR plastics and
packing manufacturers. - Increase the use of PCR plastic in plastic
manufacturing. - Support PCR plastic product and reuse research,
design, and testing, that increase the use of PCR
plastic.
- Support projects led by individuals, communities,
businesses, and organizations which self-identify as First Ncaations (status and non-status), Métis, and/or Inuit. - Support plastic waste reduction activities that prevent or eliminate waste through reuse and repair models, and through remanufacturing, value-add processing, and recycling processes.
- Build capacity around the circular economy and plastic waste reduction which are led by Indigenous people, communities, and businesses.
- Provide development support and project financing for
start-up and early-stage organizations in communities outside of the Capital Regional District (CRD) and Vaccncouver Metropolitan Area Vancouver (Metro Van), or within communities with a population of less than 25,000. - Projects funded under RPI will address the same outcomes as other funding streams.
- Eligible organizations must:
- Employ no more than 10 full-time employees
- Have generated no more than $100,000 in gross
revenue in the previous fiscal year. - located in communities
outside of the Metro Van and the CRD or within communities with a population of less than 25,000.
- Increase BC’s processing capacity to produce more plastic products with PCR plastics and packing manufacturers.
- Increase the use of PCR plastic in plastic manufacturing.
- Support PCR plastic product and reuse research, design, and testing, that increase the use of PCR plastic.
How Does It Work?
Step1
Interest
Step 2
Invited to Apply
This proposal requires detailed information about the project and the organization.
Step 3
Selection Process
Step 4
Discovery Call
Step 5
Grant Funds
Disbursed
Once the applicant has submitted all required documentation and received approval from the Government of B.C., funding is dispersed.
- 60% of total awarded grant funds disbursed as soon as possible
- 30% of total awarded grant funds disbursed after submission of mid-project update report
- 10% of of total awarded grant funds disbursed after submission of final project report
How Does It Work?
Choose one of the four available funding streams and fill in the form at the bottom of the page:
- PCR Plastics
- Circular Economy Innovation
- Indigenous Projects
- Rural Plastic Innovation
If you are approved for an application…
This proposal requires detailed information about the project and the organization.
Alacrity’s expert panel of reviewers will assess the Detailed Grant Proposals based on predetermined evaluation criteria. All scores will be summed up and averaged to produce an overall score. Successful applicants will be notified of their grant award, while unsuccessful applicants will receive feedback on their application.
As a final step in the application process, applicants will participate in a discovery call.
Once the applicant has submitted all required documentation and received approval from the Government of B.C., funding is dispersed.
- 60% of total awarded grant funds disbursed as soon as possible
- 30% of total awarded grant funds disbursed after submission of mid-project update report
- 10% of of total awarded grant funds disbursed after submission of final project report
Eligible vs. Ineligible Expenses
- Capital expenditures related to the project
- Salary costs for project-specific labour
- Retrofit costs to enable the project
- Contractor or partner organization fees
- Installation costs
- Freight or transportation charges
- PPE
- Marketing & media-related expenses*
- Education, outreach, and capacity building activities**
* Marketing and media related expenses are only eligible for the Circular Economy Innovation and Indigenous Projects categories.
** Education, outreach, and capacity building expenses are only eligible for the Indigenous Projects category.
- Operating expenses (selling, general and administrative expenses)
- Salary costs for general staff
- Marketing and other media expenses
- General website or IT upgrades
- Hosting an existing website
- Credit card processing fees
- Packaging materials for product
- Shipping and related shipping costs
- Real estate capital purchases
- Purchase or lease of private/personal vehicles
- Labour costs associated with ongoing operations
- Travel and hospitality for staff or contractors
- Structural renovations not specific to the project
Frequently Asked Questions
Select A Topic Below
Applications will be assessed in the order received and applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application as soon as processing is complete.
- Proof of funding for one third of project cost
- Proof of financial good standing
- Financial statements where applicable
- Project budget breakdown
- Full project plan
No, an application will be submitted for one project. This project may be multi-faceted.
All applications will undergo an administrative review to ensure the project meets eligibility requirements and a technical review to ensure it meets the objectives of program funding. After the initial assessment, selected applicants will be asked to provide additional materials and supporting documents.
Projects will be assessed based on their:
- Alignment
- Scale
- Feasibility
- Innovation
- Relative impact
- Regional representation
- Diversity and inclusion
- Economic Potential
No, organizations may only submit one application per phase of the fund.
- Capital expenditures related to the project
- Salary costs for project-specific labour
- Retrofit costs to enable the project
- Contractor or partner organization fees
- Installation costs
- Freight or transportation charges
- PPE
- Operating expenses (selling, general and administrative expenses)
- Salary costs for general staffÂ
- Marketing and other media expenses
- General website or IT upgrades
- Hosting an existing websiteÂ
- Credit card processing feesÂ
- Packaging materials for product shipping and related shipping costsÂ
- Real estate capital purchases
- Purchase or lease of private/personal vehicles
- Labour costs associated with ongoing operations
- Travel and hospitality for staff or contractors
- Structural renovations not specific to the project
Capacity-building and educational projects will be considered for the Indigenous funding stream only.
Plastic materials for PCR processing cannot be sourced from outside of the Province of B.C. Equipment necessary to implement your project can be sourced outside of the Province.
Yes, you are eligible to apply again, given that you are applying for a project exclusive from the one previously funded. However, priority will be given to projects which have not received previous funding.
Yes, non-profit organizations are eligible if they meet the existing eligibility criteria.
No. Only plastics which are SPI Recycling numbers 1 – 7 are eligible.
Eligible plastic types include; Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or Vinyl), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS or Styrofoam), Bisphenol A and others.
No, environmental cleanup projects are not eligible.
There is no specific TRL which projects must be at. Projects, regardless of their TRL, will be judged based on their potential impact, alignment, and scalability.
No, projects cannot include containers or primary materials made from problematic plastics, which includes polystyrene foam (PS/EPS), PVC, PDVC, carbon black, compostable plastic, biodegradable plastic, and all oxo-degradable plastics.
Only one application per business may be submitted. Please choose the funding stream most applicable to your project.
Every project will have a customized payment plan depending on the size, milestones and project end date.
If I do not have a receipt/invoice for any of my eligible expenses, can I still submit it as an eligible expense?
No. All submitted expenses will require proof of service completed and proof of payment. If you do lose original receipts or invoices, other evidence of the expense, such as bank statements, may be considered.
Yes. The grant funds are taxable and should be reported on your corporate tax return.
If I do not have a receipt/invoice for any of my eligible expenses, can I still submit it as an eligible expense?. All submitted expenses will require proof of service completed and proof of payment. If you do lose original receipts or invoices, other evidence of the expense, such as bank statements, may be considered.
The online EOI will close once all funds have been subscribed.
Successful applicants from Phase 1 of the CleanBC Plastics Action Fund can be found here: TBA
February 28th, 2026
Successful applicants will be required to provide a report every 3 months (90 days) after the transfer of initial payment until the project conclusion.
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for?
Plastics Action Fund Program Alumni
PAF 1: Resulting Impact
PAF 2: Projected Impact
PAF 3: Projected Impact
Impact
From Past Two Phases: 2021 – 2023
CleanBC Plastics Action Fund will support novel plastic waste reduction projects across the province promoting the development of a circular economy in B.C.
Learn More About Alacrity’s Lifetime Impact
Impact From Past Two Phases: 2021-2023
CleanBC Plastics Action Fund will support novel plastic waste reduction projects across the province promoting the development of a circular economy in B.C.
Learn More About Alacrity’s Lifetime Impact
PAF 1: Resulting Impact
PAF 2: Projected Impact
PAF 3: Projected Impact
Impact
From Past Two Phases:
2021 – 2023
CleanBC Plastics Action Fund will support novel plastic waste reduction projects across the province promoting the development of a circular economy in B.C.
Learn More About
Alacrity’s Lifetime Impact
Funded Projects
Apply to the
BC Plastics Action Fund!
If you are an entrepreneur, business, or community looking to promote the transition to a circular economy through recycling, remanufacturing, reuse, and repair initiatives, this funding program is for you.
Applications Open Oct. 20 2023