I have checked the postcode checker and our project site is not within a qualifying zone...help!

SITA Trust is just one Landfill Communities funder and there are others who may be able to fund in your area. Check www.entrust.org.uk to find a list of funders by region.

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Why does SITA Trust not fund any projects in Northern Ireland?

SITA Trust does not provide funding in Northern Ireland because it does not receive any landfill tax credits from sites in Northern Ireland. Our donor company, SITA UK does not own any landfill sites in this country.

The Landfill Communities fund is available via other Environmental Bodies and details can be found on www.entrust.org.uk


In Cornwall and Lancashire seperate arrangements have been made for tax credits generated at SITA UK's (our donor company) landfill sites.  Community organisations in these two counties should refer to www.entrust.org.uk to find funders in their area.

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How much funding can I ask for?

It depends on which programme and scheme you are applying for. Take a look at our Apply for Funding section - you may wish to also download the relevant application guide from the Documents and Resources page.

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What is the Landfill Communities Fund?

Landfill Communities Fund

SITA Trust distributes funding though the Government's 'Landfill Communities Fund' (LCF). The LCF is a funding scheme for community and environmental projects around landfill sites. A large number of organisations have been set up to distribute funding through the LCF, SITA Trust is one of the largest and one of few accredited by the LCF regulator ENTRUST.

Landfill operators collect a tax for every tonne of waste they collect. This tax is designed to reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfill each year. A proportion of the tax that landfill operators collect can be allocated to the Landfill Communities Fund.

Landfill operators donate the money they collect to organisations that have been set up to distribute funding. So, in our case, SITA UK provides funding to SITA Trust, and organisations apply to us for funding.

All distributors of Landfill Communities funding are regulated by an organisation called ENTRUST on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs.

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How long can the funding last for?

We fund both short and long-term projects although we won't usually commit funding to projects that last more than three years; we will also review the progress of the project each year. Once an offer of funding has been made, the grant must be taken up within a specified number of months. If this is proving difficult for genuine reasons, the Trust may consider granting an extension.

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What is GreenPrints?

GreenPrints is one of the funding programme run by SITA Trust. This England-wide scheme makes it easier for 16 to 25 year olds to improve their environment for the benefit of people and wildlife.

See the GreenPrints section of this website for more details. 

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How do I find out if my project qualifies for funding?

Read our application guide and check our website, and if you're still not sure, call or email us.

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I've heard that the LCF has funding 'objects' - what are these?

Funding 'Objects' are guidelines on the types of projects that can be supported through the Landfill Communities Fund. SITA Trust supports the following 'objects':

1. Object D - improvements to community amenities
2. Object E - improvements to historic buildings and places of worship
3. Object DA - biodiversity projects

Instead of referring to these objects, SITA Trust has two main funding programmes, Enriching Nature and Enhancing Communities, as well as GreenPrints, our youth volunteering programme.

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Is the Landfill Communities Fund Compulsory for Landfill Operators?

No, it is a voluntary scheme. Landfill Operators do not benefit financially from taking part.

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Dear SITA Trust,When are the deadlines for enhancing communities?

Deadlines for our Enhancing Communities Programme can be viewed on the Enhancing Communities page. You are welcome to contact us on01454 262910 for any further details.

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What is ENTRUST?

ENTRUST is the regulator of the Landfill Communities Fund. ENTRUST regulates the LCF on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs and audits organisations that distribute Landfill Communities Funding.

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Can the association of people with Disabilities benefit of your assistance

SITA Trust welcomes applications to our funding programmes from all not-for-profit organisations with projects which fit our funding criteria. You may wish to take a look at the outline of our funding programmes: Enhancing Communities and GreenPrints to see if these programmes fit with your proposed project. Please give us a call on 01454 262910 if you require any specific assistance.

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Why do LCF funders sometimes have different rules?

All funders must comply with the rules of the Landfill Communities Fund. They can only fund projects that are eligible for funding through the Scheme. Please note, however, that funders may also have additional criteria. SITA Trust, for example, will only fund projects on school sites if the facility is run by an organisation which is separately managed from the school and has it's own access.

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Do we have to be a registered Environmental Body to be eligible for a grant?

The term 'Environmental Body' is used by ENTRUST to describe organisations that can manage Landfill Communities funding. However, to receive Landfill Communities funding, organisations do not need to enrol as an Environmental Body. This is because SITA Trust will act as the Environmental Body on your project - ensuring that funding is spent in a compliant way.

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Do you fund recycling and waste management projects?

Until 2003, SITA Trust and other distributors of LCF funding supported recycling, education and research into waste management. Funding for these types of projects is no longer possible through the LCF since the rules for funding were changed.

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Is the recycling centre at St Erth, Cornwall, a site which now identifies an area within which projects may be eligible for Sita grants?

All community funding applications in Cornwall are managed by the SITA Cornwall Trust which is a completely separate organisation to SITA Trust. Please contact them for information.

www.sitacornwalltrust.co.uk

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What's the Contributing Third Party Payment (CTP)?

The CTP is a payment that must be made to SITA UK, before funding is released. The CTP payment essentially unlocks the funding. We explain this in detail in our application guides.

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Should we include the Contributing Third Party Payment (CTP) when we prepare the project budget?

When applying for the amount of funding you need from SITA Trust, do not add the value of the CTP to the amount you are requesting. The CTP unlocks the funding and pays back SITA who can only receive a tax credit for 90% of the funding they donate through the Scheme. There's more information about this payment in the SITA Trust application guides.

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Does SITA UK make a profit from the CTP?

No. SITA UK receives a tax credit of most of the money that it pays to HM Revenue and Customs. However, when SITA UK pays money to SITA Trust for onward distribution it has to add some of its own money onto the amount. So, the contributing third party payment(CTP), when it is returned to SITA UK pays back this money. It doesn't, however, cover the cost of interest losses incurred by SITA UK and the company makes no profit from the scheme.

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Why is SITA Trust also referred to as a Distributive Environmental Body?

It means that the Trust is a registered Environmental Body with ENTRUST (the Landfill Communities Fund regulator), that can distribute funding to eligible projects.

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Does SITA UK run the Trust?

No, the Trust is run by its own Board of Directors. The majority of Board members are independent people who are not employed by SITA UK.

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Can I re-apply for funding if my project has been turned down?

If your project has been turned down by the SITA Trust Board you will have to wait 12 months before you submit the same project to the Trust for consideration. In the mean time however, you can submit other projects for consideration.

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What can GreenPrints funding be spent on?

GreenPrints funding can be spent on anything involved in making physical improvements to a green space. This might include buying tools, materials, training or transport for volunteers etc. Funding might also be used to promote and celebrate the project or pay for more specialist support.

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I’ve got a great idea for a GreenPrints Flagship project – what do I do next?

If you have an idea for a Flagship Project you should start by completing an initial application form. This will help you to think through the idea in more detail and it will enable us to understand if your project is something we can support

If your project is suitable we will put you in touch with a Mentor who will help you develop your idea into a full application. This application will be assessed and a funding decision will be made.

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How will the Mentor help me with my GreenPrints Flagship project?

Mentors are a unique resource, providing practical support to groups wishing to create and complete projects that improve local green spaces.

Trained in practical conservation and environmental volunteering, Mentors are well equipped to provide advice and guidance to help ensure that a project works.

Here's how it works:

A group starts by coming up with an idea for a GreenPrints Flagship project. The idea is written on a stage one application form and submitted. If the project fits with what we can fund we will put the group in touch with a Mentor.

The Mentor will then help the group develop the idea into a full funding application which, once submitted, will be assessed so that a funding decision can be made.

If your project is supported by GreenPrints your Mentor will continue to provide practical support throughout the project. This might include:

• Recruiting volunteers
• Building partnerships with other organisations
• Helping to identify suitable training opportunities
• Advising on health and safety issues
• Completing project documentation

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