Fund details
Applications:
For funding under $5,000: open Saturday 1 November, close Monday 1 December 2025
For funding over $5,000: open Wednesday 1 October, close Saturday 1 November 2025
Decision: December 2025
Funds available: Up to $250,000 available annually. See past allocations (246KB PDF)
About the fund
The Waste Minimisation Fund supports initiatives that help Pōneke transition to a zero-waste future by reducing waste and improving resource efficiency.
We aim to achieve this by supporting projects that address identified gaps and opportunities, or that complement and enhance existing programmes – helping Wellington move towards a zero-waste future.
All successful projects will contribute to the goals of the Council’s Regional Waste Management and Minimisation Plan and He anamata para kore mō Pōneke - A zero waste future for Wellington.
The total funding pool is allocated across these 2 grant types:
- 20% is dedicated to small projects – under $5,000
- 80% is dedicated to medium/large projects – over $5,000.
Where the funds come from
When rubbish goes into a New Zealand landfill, a levy of $65 per tonne is collected by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE). A portion of the money is allocated to Wellington City Council from the MfE waste levy, based on population. This money must be spent on promoting or achieving waste minimisation as set out in our Wellington Region Waste Management and Minimisation Plan.
Priorities and outcomes
We'll consider projects aligned with the top 3 principles of the waste hierarchy, giving preference in this order:
1. Reduce, rethink, redesign
Reducing the resources being used and redesign to avoid producing waste.
2. Reuse, repair, repurpose
Keeping things in use for as long as possible, without significant processing.
3. Recycle, compost, anaerobic digestion
Process materials to make the same or different material of similar value when reuse is no longer possible.
We're looking for projects that:
- can demonstrate measurable change – for example, waste avoided/diverted
- demonstrate collaboration and co-funding (including in-kind)
- have a plan to be self-sustaining and financially viable post Council funding
- are led by mana whenua and/or hapori Māori (Māori that don't have mana whenua status in Wellington City) or involve, collaborate, or empower mana whenua and/or hapori Māori
- for applications to the over $5,000 fund, can deliver impact at scale with the potential to increase impact over time (scaled or replicated).
Eligibility
For funding under $5,000, we accept applications from individuals, community groups, businesses and organisations.
For funding over $5,000, applications must be from a legal entity (or community groups under an umbrella agreement). This might include businesses, iwi/Māori organisations, early childhood centres, schools, tertiary organisations and other community-based organisations operating in the Wellington City Council area.
Applicants should:
- provide evidence of sound financial management
- demonstrate capability and capacity to deliver the type of project proposed
- preferably have a track record of delivering similar projects – for example: good employment practice, clear and detailed planning, clear performance measures, and reporting processes.
Projects should be Wellington-based and mainly benefit the people of Wellington.
Funding can be used for operational or capital expenditure that is required to undertake a project.
Projects must achieve the elimination or minimisation of waste, or an activity that directly leads to the elimination or minimisation of waste (for example: education, behaviour change, research, innovation).
Projects must demonstrate co-funding, showing evidence of contribution to the project either in cash or 'in-kind' – this could include evidence of collaboration, and building partnerships (for example: with businesses, community groups, organisations, mana whenua and hapori Māori).
Projects requiring more than $20,000 need to complete a feasibility study and business plan.
Projects will be funded for one year, after which the project objectives should have been achieved and, where appropriate, the initiative has become self-funding.
We are continuing to move away from funding event waste minimisation due to previous support for this sector. This year, we will consider applications to the under $5,000 fund to go towards reuse systems at events. Events that have not received funding for this purpose before will be eligible to apply.
What we don’t fund
We do not fund:
- projects that focus on waste disposal or on the treatment of waste/s for example disposal/clean-ups
- retrospective costs for projects or events completed before the decision date/approval
- activities which duplicate other demonstration projects or pilot studies.
We encourage you to discuss your project with us before putting in a full application so we can advise on alignment with the fund purpose and criteria.
Timeframes
Funding under $5,000
Applications open for one month, twice a year. Applications will be reviewed by Council officers and decisions will be communicated within 4–6 weeks after the closing date, unless indicated otherwise.
Funding over $5,000
Applications open for one month, once a year. Applications will be reviewed by Pītau Pūmanawa | Grants subcommittee and decisions will be communicated within 4–6 weeks after the closing date, unless indicated otherwise.
Apply for funding
Check you have all the required documents before starting your application.
If you have applied for funding from the Council before, you can create a new funding request by logging into the funding portal. If you receive an error message when trying to access the funding portal on a mobile device, please use these instructions or contact the Funding Team.
Go to Funding Portal
If you need guidance or you're not sure if this is the right fund to apply for, please contact us.