THE CLEAN TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVE SCHEME OF THE STATE OF VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

Over the past decade environment protection policies have placed incre asing emphasis on waste minimisation and cleaner production techniques . The Environment Protection Authority in Victoria, Australia, has sou ght to encourage waste minimisation by establishing a Clean Technology Incentive Scheme. This Scheme makes available secured interest-free l oans of up to $100,000 to selected small and medium-sized companies pr oposing to install proven yet innovative waste reducing technology. Ap plications are evaluated by a Review Committee drawn from a diversity of backgrounds. The technical feasibility, innovativeness, environment al benefits and financial soundness of proposals are assessed and a sh ort-list of potential loan recipients prepared. The managerial compete nce and financial status of short-listed applicants is checked before loans are made. The Scheme was established in 1988 and since then 35 o ffers of loans have been made. Whilst the newness of the Scheme makes evaluation of its long-term effectiveness premature, results to date a re encouraging. Case studies of three especially successful projects a re presented.