Funding available to support community driven waste minimisation initiatives

Do you have a great idea that could help our community reduce or divert waste from landfill?  Now’s your chance to bring it to life with funding from the 2023 Queenstown Lakes District Council Waste Minimisation Community Fund. 

Applications for the fund open on Friday 14 April 2023.

“Every year we are inspired by the creative projects put forward to the Waste Minimisation Community Fund, which are all underpinned by a passion to help our district become a sustainable, zero-waste community,” QLDC Waste Minimisation Project Officer Kath Buttar said.

“We’ve seen some incredible projects come to life through the support of this fund since we launched it in 2018.  Last year we supported 13 projects right across the district, including a reusable nappy bank in Glenorchy, an initiative to help teach people to repair, remake and create clothing and soft furnishings from textiles that would otherwise be wasted and a number of composting initiatives to help divert food waste from landfill. 

“Over time these will start to make a real difference as more people get involved.” she said.

This year, a funding pool of $50,000 is available for community projects that encourage enduring change in behaviour, and up to $10,000 for commercial waste minimisation or resource recovery projects.

Ms Buttar said this year Council is particularly interested in initiatives that address gaps in existing programmes, creates new opportunities to minimise waste, and encourage community participation.

“If your idea supports reducing waste at the source and or diverts material from landfill, we want to hear from you,” Ms. Buttar said.

Potential applicants are encouraged to email zerowaste@qldc.govt.nz with any questions or to check if their idea meets the fund’s goals and criteria.

Application criteria, profiles of past recipients and other information can be found at www.qldc.govt.nz/wmcf 

Applications must be made online and close on 19 May.

ENDS|KUA MUTU.

Media contact: communications@qldc.govt.nz or call 03 441 1802.

FURTHER INFORMATION | KĀ PĀROKO TĀPIRI:

Grants in 2022 went to:

• Glenorchy Reusable Nappy Bank to establish a reusable nappy bank that supports new babies/young families in the Glenorchy community;

• Hāwea Flat School is looking to create a Repair and Reuse Space where students can repair, reuse, redesign, mend, invent and make toys, clothes, everyday items and bespoke resources;

• Lake Hayes A&P Society to help organisers include more sustainability initiatives and reduce waste produced by the show.

• Mount Aspiring College for the set up of infrastructure required to implement an onsite composting system for discarded food waste from around the school;

• Pinnacles Early Learning Centre’s Garbage Guardians programme to inspire their tamariki, whānau and wider community to be guardians of our planet through education around sustainable practices and waste management.

• Queenstown Harvest Community Gardens to help improve existing compost bins, build a communal worm farm; and hold composting workshops to better educate members on how to compost well.

• Fabricate for the set-up of their workshop to help teach people to repair, remake and create clothing and soft furnishings from textiles that would otherwise be wasted;

• Wānaka Community Workshop for tools needed for build and repair projects using timber that would otherwise go to landfill.

• Wānaka Primary School’s Outdoor Classroom to establishing a school-wide composting system and worm farm;

• Waste Free Wanda for an interactive environmental show that teaches primary school students in the district about waste minimisation, as well as supporting families to make a shift around single-use plastic reduction;

• Wao for the development of a Better Building Circular Economy digital education programme to help shift behaviour in the construction and building sector towards a circular economy design and build model;

• Wastebusters for the creation of educational signage to support the on-the-ground recycling service at events.

• Wastebusters for a Uniform Repurposing Pilot aimed at setting up a scheme to rebrand and sell new and preloved uniforms from local businesses.

The fund is an initiative of the Queenstown Lakes District Waste Minimisation and Management Plan; to download a copy click here: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/media/b4tnrcbz/final-wmmp-2018.pdf