Whanganui District Council’s Waste Minimisation Fund aims to support local projects that keep resources in use for longer, reduce waste at the source, and help our community move towards a circular, low-waste future.
The Fund uses money allocated from the Waste Disposal Levy (landfill fees), not rates.
Who can apply?
The fund is open to:
- Community groups and organisations
- Charitable trusts and incorporated societies
- Education providers
- Iwi and hapū
- Social enterprises and not-for-profit businesses
- Businesses
- Individuals with a community-focused project
What types of projects are supported?
We prioritise projects that target the upper levels of the waste hierarchy, in the following order:
- Redesign of systems and products. Waste reduction at the source – e.g. packaging-free systems. Project that reduce the demand for new raw material.
- Reuse and repurpose
(keep things in use for as long as possible, without significant reprocessing) – e.g. repair groups, tool libraries, second-hand systems
- Education and behaviour change – promoting long-term habits that reduce waste
- Composting or recycling – particularly where it diverts large volumes from landfill.
The fund can support materials, equipment, project delivery costs, and staff time. It doesn’t cover business-as-usual operations, debt repayment, or general overheads.
What activities are eligible for funding?
See the Waste Minimisation Fund Policy for eligibility requirements.
How much funding is available?
- A maximum of $60,000 per year is available across two funding rounds.
- Commercial applicants can apply for up to 40% of the total project cost.
- Community-led and public-good projects can apply for up to 60% of the total project cost.
What we’re looking for
We assess eligible applications based on:
- How strongly the application aligns with the Whanganui Waste Management and Minimisation Plan
- How realistic the assumptions on waste diversion are
- If the application is for seed funding, the ability for the project/activity to be self-sustaining after 12 months
- Where in the waste hierarchy the project/activity sits
- Any funding outcomes the applicant has previously had (track record in ability to deliver)
- If the applicant has previously received a grant from Council, their track record of successful completion of past projects
- Ability for the project/activity to be expanded (if funding is for a trial)
- Outreach (how much of the wider community will the project/activity reach)
Preference will be given to projects that have the ability to reach the widest audience and/or achieve the largest net benefit over time.
Applications are reviewed by a council panel. Final decisions are made by the Chief Executive.
When to apply
There are two regular funding rounds each year – usually in February and August. We may also consider late or out-of-cycle applications in special cases (e.g. urgent timeframes or unallocated funding).
If you’re successful
You’ll need to:
- Submit progress reports and/or a final report (depending on size /scale of the project)
- Show how much waste you reduced, reused, or diverted
- Share in your reporting how the funding helped your project succeed.
- Acknowledge Whanganui District Council’s support when promoting your project
How to apply
- Download the application form.
- Prepare your proposal and the required supporting documents.
Include quotes for third party services and/or capital expenditure.
Note: Projects with a total value less than $10,000 will require a detailed project timeline and proof of financial viability. Projects with a total value over $10,000 will require a detailed project plan or business plan.
- Complete and submit the application form before the closing date. You can use either the online form link below or the PDF form.
We recommend discussing your project prior to applying. Contact us via wasteteam@whanganui.govt.nz or call 06 349 0001.