It’s time for individuals, community organisations, and not-for-profits to put on their thinking caps (recycled, of course). Through their $25,000 annual Waste Levy Fund, Stratford District Council has financial support available for new projects that can measurably avoid, reduce, recycle, recover, or reuse waste in the Stratford district. Applications are open now and close on 25 May 2025.

“The Waste Levy Fund opened in 2023, and since then we’ve helped some great community waste reduction projects get off the ground,” says Peter McNamara, SDC Waste & Water Education Officer.

“From composting systems and kai gardens for local kura, to a mobile recycling station for Whangamōmona events; it’s clear we’ve got a resourceful community out there who really cares about tackling waste.”

Funding’s available for projects both big and small, as long as the total amount required doesn’t exceed the $25,000 in the fund. Successful projects could include activities, equipment and infrastructure that diverts or reuses waste from landfill, as well as research, education and behaviour change programmes. But Peter encourages people to be innovative, too.

“The application criteria’s pretty open, because we know making a real dent in the volume of resources and waste going into landfill will take lots of different people and organisations thinking creatively – I know I probably won’t have all the good ideas myself,” laughs Peter.

The Waste Levy Fund was created using money allocated to SDC through the Government’s national waste disposal levy. The national levy raises funds for waste minimisation in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Information about the fund, eligibility criteria, and how to apply, can be found at Stratford.govt.nz/WasteLevyFund

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