Waste Minimisation Fund

Here are some examples of waste minimisation projects that we have funded:

Waste Less

Set up of recycling bins and trailer for purposes of minimising waste to landfill by recycling at markets and events.

Waste Less (facebook.com)

House of Science

Interactive lesson kit for school students, 'A Load of Rubbish'. This introduces students to the world of waste through science.

Via activities like sorting recycling and understanding the waste hierarchy, students learn about our precious resources and where they go.

House of Science (houseofscience.nz)

Para Kore

Mai i Kurawaka and Kope Tautaiao

Workshops on period waste free and cloth nappy reusable items run in the Whangārei District to decrease waste to landfill.

Para Kore (parakore.maori.nz)

155 Whakaora Kai Food Rescue

Kai is precious and so is our planet. This Northland food rescue charity collects quality food destined for landfill and shares it with community organisations across Taitokerau.

Whakaora Kai (whakaorakai.org)

Legasea / Kai Ika project

The Kai Ika project aims to change the way people perceive 'waste' through recovering unwanted fish parts and sharing them with people who want them.

The LegaSea / Kai Ika project is a collaborative initiative focused on reducing waste from discarded fish parts and providing food to communities in need.

It involves collecting fish heads, frames and offal, which are typically thrown away by commercial and recreational fishers, and distributing them to families and individuals who can use them for food.

Kai Ika (kaiika.co.nz)

Waste-Ed with Kate

Cloth Nappies and More online course: Understand the lifecycle of disposable nappies and their environmental impact. Gain practical tips and tricks to make cloth nappies work for your family. Learn how to integrate reusable baby products.

Waste Free Period Programme: Designed to help individuals make sustainable choices by providing education on sustainable menstrual products. It empowers participants to reduce waste, save money and take charge of their period care in a more environmentally conscious way.

Waste-Ed with Kate (wastedkate.co.nz)

The fund focuses on seeding new initiatives that support waste minimisation, including:

• enhancing and complementing existing waste minimisation efforts
• addressing gaps in waste services or creating new waste reduction opportunities.

To be eligible, your project must:

• reduce waste to landfill and / or target priority waste streams, including:
  • organic waste
  • construction and demolition waste
  • community action and behaviour change
• achieve measurable waste minimisation outcomes, such as waste reduction, reuse, recycling, or material recovery for further use or processing
• align with the Council’s Waste Management and Minimisation Plan
• take place within Whangārei or directly benefit the Whangārei District community
• be led by a legal entity (e.g. a community group) or operate under an umbrella legal entity
• provide evidence of costs, including:
  • written quotes
  • product advertisements
  • reports and budgets (verbal quotes will not be accepted)
• start within three months of funding approval and be completed within 12 months of receiving funds
• acknowledge Council support by using the Council logo in promotional materials.

Reporting requirements

• All recipients must report back to the Council.
• Projects receiving over $5,000 must submit progress reports on key milestones and a final outcomes report.

To ensure a smooth application process, please provide the following:

• Completed application form:  answer all questions thoroughly. Incomplete applications may result in delays.
• Required attachments:  include all requested documents and clearly label any additional materials.
• Financial information:  provide a bank account in the organisation’s name and proof of financial stability (e.g. annual or audited accounts).

Cost evidence requirements

Provide clear evidence of all costs related to your application, such as:

• quotes
• product advertisements
• reports
• budgets.

Verbal quotes will not be accepted.

GST considerations:

• If you are GST-registered, do not include GST in your project cost breakdown.
• If you are not GST-registered, the Council will adjust the funding application accordingly.

Additional considerations

To receive funding, applicants must be actively involved in the project and contribute resources. This may include:

• supplying materials
• providing in-kind labour
• making a financial contribution.

Ensure you detail your contribution in the application form.

Funding will not be provided for:

• waste disposal or treatment for disposal / clean-ups
• projects that do not align with the Council’s Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2023 and funding priorities
• general environmental education programmes (only educational projects that specifically promote waste minimisation are eligible)
• projects outside the Whangārei District 
• retrospective projects, including funding for work already completed or debt repayment
• activities that duplicate existing demonstration projects or pilot studies
• rental leases
• funding deposited into personal bank accounts (only organisational accounts are accepted)
• waste minimisation projects already receiving Ministry for the Environment funding or Council funding
• specialist or private recycling programmes, such as:
  • soft plastics recycling
  • bottle cap collections
  • liquid paperboard (e.g. Tetra Pak) recycling.

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria. Ensure your proposal reflects these key areas:

1. Strategic alignment

Projects must align with the strategic waste minimisation objectives and guiding principles of the Whangarei District Council’s Waste Management and Minimisation Plan.

2. Waste minimisation

Proposals must contribute to reducing landfill waste and / or target priority waste streams, achieving measurable waste minimisation outcomes.

• Target priority waste streams

Note: Educational projects must specifically promote waste minimisation and not general environmental education.

3. Community participation and benefit

• Projects should actively engage the local community within the Whangārei District, encouraging waste reduction.
• Proposals should create tangible community benefits, though private sector benefits may also be considered.

4. Value for investment

• Proposals building on existing initiatives should add value and bring a fresh approach.
• Where possible, proposals should address gaps in Council waste services and create new waste reduction opportunities.
• Collaboration with other waste-related initiatives is encouraged.
• Projects must provide a good return on investment, considering both risk and benefit.
• The proposal should not duplicate or undermine existing initiatives.
• Funds must be used within 12 months, with projects commencing within three months of funding approval.
• Funding can cover operational or capital expenditure related to waste minimisation.
• Applicants must be a legally recognised entity (or a community group operating under an umbrella organisation).

5. Quality of proposal

• Clear objectives must be stated, including which waste streams are being addressed and how.
• The applicant must demonstrate capacity to deliver the project, ideally with experience in similar initiatives.
• Objectives must be measurable, with quantifiable waste diversion outcomes.
• Projects with proven landfill waste diversion must include data on the amount of each waste stream diverted.
• Proposals must be technically and financially feasible and not pose an unacceptable level of risk to the Council.

By addressing these criteria in your proposal, you improve your chances of securing funding for your waste minimisation project.

All funding decisions made by Whangarei District Council are final.

Recipients may apply for future funding rounds only if they have submitted a completed accountability report for any previous waste minimisation funding received from the Council.