Auckland Council’s Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund (WMIF) is back, with $500,000 available to support projects that reduce waste and help build a circular economy in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Applications open from 1 to 31 August, with grants ranging from $1,000 to $50,000.

Previous WMIF projects:

• Ae Ka Taea e Koe helped three Kōhanga Reo adopt reusable nappies, keeping an estimated 2,836 disposable nappies out of landfill during a two-month pilot. Two of the Kōhanga Reo have continued using cloth nappies full-time.
• Community Threads engaged more than 1,200 people in textile repair and upcycling activities, diverting an estimated 867kg of textiles from landfill. 
• Para Kore Marae’s He Mana tō te Kai programme helped participating whānau reduce food waste by 38 per cent.

The fund is also supporting new initiatives including:

• E Tū Rākau Charitable Trust’s mobile Resource Lab to help communities rethink waste; and
• University of Auckland’s development of a child-safe composting system for Auckland schools.

This year, applicants are encouraged to focus on reducing organic waste, plastics, packaging, textiles, and construction and demolition waste.

Visit the main Auckland Council website to check eligibility, learn more about the fund and submit an application.

Image: Auckland Council