Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is inviting locals to take action on waste with the return of the Waste Minimisation Community Fund (WMCF). 

With up to $60,000 in funding available, the WMCF supports innovative projects that reduce waste and promote the sustainable use of resources across the district. 

Individuals, businesses, schools, and community groups are all encouraged to apply.

“This fund is about empowering our community to bring those ideas to life and work together toward a zero-waste future, built on the principles of a circular economy,” QLDC sustainability advisor Emma Brockie said.  

The WMCF was founded in 2018 and it has supported a wide range of projects that either reduce waste at the source or divert it from landfill.

They have included upcycling old uniforms, school community composting, repair and reuse hubs, reusable packaging trials, sustainable period workshops, and food waste education campaigns.

In the Upper Clutha projects include Mountainside Educare’s waste minimisation programme, reuse initiatives at Wānaka Community Workshop and Fabricate, and the Kids First Kindergarten’s Hāwea composting project, among others.

QLDC is keen to see what new ideas emerge this year, Emma said.  

“Collective small actions can have a huge impact and create lasting change,” she said.

“We encourage anyone with a creative idea for minimising waste and maximising resource recovery to apply and help build a more sustainable future for our community.” 

Applications for the QLDC Waste Minimisation Community Fund will close on May 25.

The council is particularly interested in initiatives that address gaps in existing waste reduction programmes. 

Find more information and apply here.

PHOTO: Supplied