Eight groups have received grants from Waipā District Council’s $40,000 Waste Minimisation community fund.
The projects range from an education campaign around what makes a good donation to charity shops to clothes swapping events.
Group manager Dawn Inglis told council’s Service Delivery committee this week there were 11 applications totalling $67,400 made to the fund.
Projects given priority were those that sit higher on the waste hierarchy, deal with larger volumes of waste and were new and unique ideas that had the possibility to model the way for other businesses, industries and communities.
“The range and quality of the projects were really interesting and exciting, with only one group having applied before, and five being businesses applying this round,” said Inglis.
The fund will open again in March, and this will be regular timing for it to allow groups to apply, receive funding and deliver during Plastic Free July.
“It would be good to see more community leadership in this international month,” she said.
The successful applicants were:
Equibreed: Trial to test compostable packaging to replace the use of polystyrene and non-recyclable ice packs currently standard for the shipment of stallion semen in the equine breeding industry.
Lions Shed: An education campaign about what a ‘good’ donation is to help reduce the number of unsuitable items donated to charity shops.
Cambridge Primary School: Student-led composting service for businesses and families, using school ‘hot composting’ facilities.
Urban Miners Waipa: Trailer to assist with monthly e-waste collection events in Te Awamutu and Cambridge.
Cambridge East Primary School: Revamp is a clothes swap event to keep clothes out of landfill and create conversation about second-hand fashion.
Destination Cambridge: A worm farming workshop with a worm expert.
Fill Good: Workshops on how to make cleaning products using a few bulk ingredients.
