27 November 2015

Boost for waste minimisation efforts

Wellington has increased its commitment to reducing rubbish and waste thanks to almost $50,000 in support from the Waste Minimisation Seed Fund. Wellington events such as the Newtown Festival, CubaDupa and the Island Bay Festival have received funding to improve recycling efforts and help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

Councillor Iona Pannett, Chair of Wellington City Council’s Environment Committee, says this fund will help enhance Wellington’s reputation and encourage leadership in waste minimisation.

Six organisations have been selected to receive support from the fund ranging from Wellington Hospital and Cuba Street waste audits to the NZ Post corporate uniform end-of-life initiative, the Newtown and Island Bay Festivals and CupaDupa.

“It’s fantastic to see the range of applications in this first round of the new fund,” says Cr Pannett. “We know Wellingtonians care about reducing waste and we look forward to seeing even more initiatives coming forward in 2016.”

The fund will support Newtown Festival’s goal in reaching zero waste to landfill, with manned recycling stations, compostable packaging and an extensive public waste audit.

The Formary, an organisation committed to reducing commercial textile and clothing waste, will receive funding to develop a solution to NZ Post’s end-of-life clothing waste, which would otherwise be sent to landfill, through reusing textile fibre to make new products.

Projects funded by the committee were:
Creative Capital Arts Trust - CubaDupa Waste Minimisation $3500
Island Bay Enhancement Trust - Island Bay Festival - Waste Minimisation $2000
Newtown Community & Cultural Centre - Newtown Festival Waste Diversion $3500
Sustainability Trust - Cuba St Commercial Waste Audits $10,000
The Formary - NZ Post corporate uniform end-of-life $10,000
Capital and Coast District Health Board – Wellington Hospital Waste Reduction $20,000.

The fund comes from landfill levies collected by the Ministry for the Environment and is a part of Wellington’s environmental responsibility, set out in the Wellington’s Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (2011-2017).

Applicants are invited to apply for the 2016 Waste Minimisation Seed Fund for projects under $2000 between 1 February and 31 May 2016. Applications are considered at the end of each month.

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