Is my organisation eligible to apply?
You may be eligible to apply if your organisation is fully constituted, charitable or not-for-profit, has no share capital, and is applying for an eligible project close to a qualifying Biffa operation or landfill site.
- Your project must improve quality of life in the local community or help protect and restore nature.
- Your project must meet the criteria for one funding theme only.
- You must meet the distance, access, ownership and funding requirements set out in the Guidance Notes.
We cannot accept applications from local authorities, councils, hospices, hospitals, day-care centres, nurseries, food banks, rehabilitation units, residential care facilities, activity centres, schools or colleges.
We also cannot fund projects located on the grounds of any of these organisations, or on allotments.
We no longer accept grant applications from Scotland and Wales as devolved nations.
Places of worship
We can consider applications for places of worship under the Community Buildings theme, but only where the building is used regularly by the wider community, in a similar way to a village hall or community centre, attracting many wider activity groups regularly each week.
We cannot fund general building repairs, repairs to church windows, spires, steeples or bell towers, or areas that are not publicly available as community space.
Sporting clubhouses
We can consider internal renovation projects in sporting clubhouses under the Recreation theme, but only where the space clearly serves the wider community outside of sporting activity, in a similar way to a village hall or community centre, attracting many wider activity groups regularly each week.
We cannot fund changing rooms, showers, toilets, sports kits, repairs to pitches, courts, greens or nets, external lighting, drainage, or areas that are not publicly available as community space.
How do I check whether my project is within the required distance of a Biffa operation or licensed landfill site?
Choose your project theme from the main menu and use the Postcode Checker at the bottom of the page. Enter your project postcode and select Search. If your site meets the Biffa Award distance criteria, the checker will show any qualifying Biffa operation or Biffa landfill site within the required distance.
You must also check whether your site is within 10 miles of a licensed landfill site using the regulator’s landfill lookup here. If your site is eligible, the landfill site name, distance and postcode will appear. If no details appear, your project does not meet the Landfill Communities Fund distance criteria and you cannot apply.
Please make a note of the site names, addresses, distances and postcodes shown, as you will need this information when you apply.
Who is Entrust?
Entrust is the HMRC-appointed regulator of the Landfill Communities Fund.
All funded projects must be registered with Entrust to make sure funding is spent in line with the scheme rules. Most projects are registered by The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) on behalf of applicants, unless they are managed by an existing Environmental Body.
How do I check whether my organisation is already registered as an Environmental Body?
You can check whether your organisation is already registered as an Environmental Body here.
I am already registered as an Environmental Body. Can I still apply?
Yes, as long as your project is eligible.
Most projects are registered and managed by RSWT on your behalf. If your organisation is already enrolled with Entrust, has no live projects through the scheme, and would like to voluntarily revoke its registration, please contact Entrust directly here before submitting an application.
If I meet all the criteria, will my Expression of Interest automatically progress to full application?
No. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee that your Expression of Interest will be invited to full application.
Funding is limited and the scheme is often oversubscribed. We will prioritise projects that best demonstrate:
- strong community need and wider use
- long-term public benefit
- improved access to community spaces
- clear benefits for nature recovery
We also prioritise projects in communities experiencing higher levels of need, as well as those located close to Biffa landfill sites.
Projects focused only on reducing costs or saving energy will not be funded.
Does my project have to benefit the whole community?
Yes. Projects funded through the Main Grants Scheme must benefit the wider community.
When you apply, we will ask you to show evidence of community benefit, including a schedule of occupancy. If you are invited to full application, you will also need to provide letters of support, letters of intent to use the facility, and evidence of community consultation.
Can we apply if we do not own the land?
Yes. You must have the correct agreement in place before applying.
- For Community Buildings, Recreation and Cultural Facilities projects, you must have a fully signed lease between the landowner and the applicant, with at least 10 years remaining.
- For Nature Recovery projects, you must have either a fully signed lease or a fully signed landowner agreement, with at least 10 years remaining.
We cannot accept any other forms of agreement, including but not limited to:
- letters of intent or consent
- draft agreements
- heads of terms
- subleases
- underleases
What are your themes?
Under our Main Grants Scheme, you can apply for between £10,000 and £75,000. The scheme has four funding themes, each with its own eligibility criteria: Community Buildings, Recreation, Cultural Facilities and Nature Recovery.
There can be no crossover between themes. To find out more, download our Main Grants Scheme Guidance Notes. These may have changed since you last applied.
Under our Partnership Grants Scheme, we have two themes: Natural Environment and Built Environment. Please check our homepage to see whether the scheme is open for applications.
What is the maximum total project cost for Main Grants Scheme applications?
The maximum grant available is £75,000. Total project costs must not exceed £200,000 including VAT.
We cannot fund standalone elements of a larger project if the full project costs more than £200,000 including VAT. This includes separating a wider project of renovation into smaller phases. There are no exceptions to this rule.
If your project costs more than £75,000, you can secure funding from multiple sources. We will need to know the total amount of funding you have secured and who the other funders are.
How long does the application process take?
The Main Grants Scheme has a two-stage application process: Expression of Interest and, if invited, Full Application. It can usually take up to six months from submitting your Expression of Interest to find out whether your project has been approved, subject to being invited to Full Application and meeting all criteria.
When should I submit my Expression of Interest and when will I hear?
You can submit an Expression of Interest for the Main Grants Scheme at any time. We aim to let you know whether your Expression of Interest will be invited to Full Application within one week of submission.
The Board meets four times a year to decide which projects to fund. If you are invited to Full Application, you will have six weeks to complete and submit your form and supporting documents. Your application will go to the next available Board meeting in line with our internal deadlines. This means it may take up to six months to hear whether you have been successful.
What is the Third Party Contribution, why is it needed, and who can pay it?
Only 90% of any grant can be paid using Landfill Tax Credits. The remaining 10% must come from another source. This is called the Third Party Contribution.
For example, a Third Party Contribution of £7,500 could unlock a £75,000 grant. If your application is successful, the contribution is paid directly to Biffa Group Limited on request.
The Third Party Contribution is separate from match funding or shortfall funding. You must not include it in your direct project costs, as it is paid in addition to the grant amount requested.
The contribution cannot come from other Landfill Communities Fund monies or from anyone who will receive a unique benefit from the project, such as a contractor. Your organisation can make the contribution from its reserves, if it is not a registered Environmental Body. There can be more than one Third Party Contributor, but the contribution is non-refundable.
If you are already enrolled with Entrust as an Environmental Body, you must follow the specific rules around the Contributing Third Party. These can be found on the Entrust website here.
Will you come to our opening event?
The Biffa Award team is small, so we are not always able to attend celebration events. However, if you email the details to biffa-award@wildlifetrusts.org, we will check our diary or ask whether a representative from Biffa can attend. We will let you know either way.
What should I do if I have any more questions?
If this Frequently Asked Questions page has not answered your query, please email biffa-award@wildlifetrusts.org.