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Apply for Funding

The CIF welcomes project applications from Ontario recycling programs. Either municipalities or their long-term contractors can apply. 

CIF ApplicationWe encourage you to use the online project application to develop your CIF project application. This system allows you to complete the form, edit, print and submit your application electronically. To apply online, click on the green button to the left.

If you prefer to work offline, you may use a Microsoft Word project application form. Please fill in all the applicable fields, then email or fax it to Andy Campbell, CIF Director (email: andycampbell@wdo.ca; fax: 866-472-0107).

CIF staff members are available to help any applicant, at any point in the application process. Our goal is to work with Ontario communities to develop project concepts that can cost-effectively improve the province's recycling system, at the same time as they meet local waste diversion goals.

Getting Started

Before you begin a project application, we encourage you to consider the following:

  1. Find out if the proposed project is the same as one that has been completed or approved under the Effectiveness and Efficiency Fund or the CIF. System-wide projects that implement recommendations from successful Effectiveness & Efficiency Fund and other CIF projects are ideal.
  2. Review a summary of items that are included in the application form to gain a sense of information that you will want to develop or have on hand: CIF Application Summary.
  3. Review our "Fund Priorities" page to make sure that your concept fits into one of the CIF priority areas. Consider whether the project aligns with the CIF focus, which is on projects that will immediately improve costs and efficiency, rather than on writing studies that may or may not be implemented. CIF priorities are reviewed each year and the 2010 priorities will be posted on this web site at the end of November.

Key Components of Successful CIF Applications

The CIF has streamlined its application to simplify the process by which applicants can describe their project ideas and seek project funding. Applications that include a clear and supportable business case demonstrating that the proposed project meets the CIF priorities are generally more likely to attract project funding. Applications for substantial project funding will generally require a higher level of detail and analysis than those for smaller sums.

With that in mind, successful CIF applications share several characteristics:

  • A clear description of project goals and how these goals align with CIF priorities.
  • Quantified estimates of the impacts of the proposed project on the program's waste diversion and recycling cost-effectiveness.
    • Projects that improve a municipality’s to blue box program cost-effectiveness and/or increase diversion are preferred.
    • Applications that describe projects that may be applied in other communities or that describe a novel concept or technology are generally more easy to approve for CIF funding.
  • Evidence to support projected costs savings or increase in diversion is important to larger value projects.
  • Evidence that the project is targeting the “next least cost tonne” for projects targeting increased diversion.
  • A shorter project support payback period. The CIF will not support projects with payback periods exceeding 8 years.
  • A well laid-out workplan that identifies key tasks, personnel and a reasonable timetable, Council and/or senior management support will assume responsibilities to accomplish project goals and objectives.
    • Programs for which council support is far in the future may be more difficult to support than others that are closer to start-up).

Role of CIF Staff

CIF staff do not approve or reject projects. Their job is to assist applicants in developing supportable projects, wherever possible. If you have questions about how your project concept fits with CIF priorities or how to make the case in support of your project, CIF staff members would welcome the chance to discuss this with you.

CIF Application Resources

CIF staff will need to review your project budget as part of the application process.  You can use any format you wish as long as it describes the elements of your project.  A CIF Budget and Planning Tool is an Excel-based spreadsheet that contains a comprehensive list (four worksheets) to help you cost out your project.  Please note that the level of detail outlined in this file does not relate to every project and, in some cases, only very large ones.  This file also contains links to existing sources of information provided in the WDO datacall reports that may also be of assistance.

Applicants may wish to draw on various sources of information to develop their CIF project applications.

Depending on the complexity and value of the application, CIF projects may progress through three stages of review:

  • CIF Director approves projects up to $50,000 value;
  • CIF Project Committee approves projects from $50,000 to $250,000;
  • CIF Committee approves projects greater than $250,000.