Fund launched for waste initiatives

25 June 2014

Got a bright idea to get rid of waste?

The Waste Resources Advisory Group (WRAG), administered by Bay of Plenty Regional Council, has launched a new $50,000 fund to assist waste initiatives from Bay of Plenty based businesses, industry, councils, or community groups.

WRAG is made up of district and city councils, community groups, Toi Te Ora Public Health and a variety of industry and businesses with an interest in managing waste. Regional Council Project Implementation Officer Reece Irving said the newly launched contestable fund was designed to promote the actions and initiatives of the region’s Waste and Resource Efficiency Strategy.

“These include fostering collaboration and partnerships, improving data and information management, increasing resource efficiency and beneficial reuse, reducing the harmful impacts of waste and stimulating research and innovation whilst all the while reducing waste to landfill,” he said.

Project funding applications would be scored on how closely aligned they were to the Strategy's key focus areas.

“Waste efficiency and minimisation is not just driven by councils; it involves the community, business and industry working together. WRAG’s 16 members include representatives from all of these sectors.

“The WRAG will be more inclined to accept projects which may have other sources of funding as well, and the more aligned they are to the Strategy’s aspirations, the more likely the WRAG are to fund them,” Mr Irving said.

The first round of funding is now open, and applications close on 1 August.

WRAG will meet in mid-August to consider the projects. Information about the assessment criteria, the Waste Resource Efficiency Strategy and an application form are on the Regional Council’s website, www.boprc.govt.nz/wrag

ends

© Scoop Media