Fund details
Key dates: Expressions of Interest close 29 February and shortlisted by 13 March. Applications close 3 April for consideration at the 22 May 2024 Pītau Pūmanawa | Grants Subcommittee.
Contact: Yvonne Mackie, Funding Team Leader: yvonne.mackie@wcc.govt.nz
Value: Up to $100,000 available each year. See past allocations (191KB PDF)
Why we’re targeting organic waste
When organic waste breaks down in landfill it releases methane, a harmful greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change.
Almost 60% of the kerbside waste going to the Southern Landfill is organic, so we can make a significant difference by addressing this.
How it works
There is up to $100,000 available every year, for three financial years starting 2021/2022.
We are particularly interested in projects that can deliver outcomes at scale. Preference will be given to larger projects to ensure maximum impact.
Priorities for the fund
Projects must reduce organic waste. Funding recommendations will be based on assessment in order of priority, according to the food and drink waste hierarchy:
(i) Prevention: Wasted materials, ingredients and product reduced at source
(ii) Prevention: Redistribution to people
(iii) Prevention: Animal feed
(iv) Recycling: Anaerobic digestion or composting
(v) Recovery: Incineration of waste with energy recovery
(vi) Disposal: To landfill or sewer, or incineration without energy recovery.
Consideration will be given to:
- project scale and amount of organic waste diverted from landfill
- acknowledgement and inclusion of Te Ao Māori principles
- adherence to the principles of the Circular Economy.
Eligibility criteria
- The applicant should be a legally constituted community group or organisation (or fall under an umbrella agreement). This might include community groups, businesses, iwi/Māori organisations, early childhood centres, schools, tertiary organisations and other community-based organisations operating in the Wellington City Council area.
- The applicant should provide evidence of sound financial management, good employment practice, clear and detailed planning, clear performance measures, and reporting processes.
- Projects must result in the reduction of organic waste to landfill, either by implementing new initiatives, or significant expansion in the scope or coverage of existing activities.
- Projects must promote or achieve reduction of organic waste to landfill; this includes the reduction of organic waste, and the reuse, recycling and/or recovery of materials or energy for further use or processing.
- Projects will be for a discrete funding timeframe of one year, after which the project objectives should have been achieved and, where appropriate, the initiative has become self-funding.
- Funding can be used for operational or capital expenditure that is required to undertake a project.
- Projects should be Wellington-based and mainly benefitting the people of Wellington.
- The project should show evidence of community support, collaboration, and building partnerships with other organisations (for example, social media and crowd funding, letters of support from other organisations/leaders). This should also include contribution to the project either in cash or in kind.
- The Council respects mana whenua values and aspirations for the environment, projects should reflect an understanding of Wellington’s history, how to care for the land and resources and an understanding of wāhi tapu.
How to apply
The application process is as follows:
To be considered for a Waste Minimisation Seed Fund – Organics Diversion grant, you will need to submit an Expression of Interest by 29 February 2024.
At this stage, we just need to understand:
- if your proposal meets the funding criteria and priorities
- expected outcomes.
Submit an Expression of Interest
Expressions of Interest will be reviewed against the diversion and eligibility criteria above and shortlisted by 13 March 2024.
Shortlisted projects will be invited to make a full application for consideration by the Pītau Pūmanawa | Grants Subcommittee. Full applications will need to be submitted by 3 April 2024.
Decisions on the full applications will be made on 22 May by the Pītau Pūmanawa | Grants Subcommittee.