Groups diverting rubbish from the landfill are being encouraged to apply for their share of an annual fund administered by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The Waste Resources Advisory Group has $50,000 available to local groups and organisations, and is looking forward to learning about some of the innovative ideas being actioned across the Bay.

Why Waste's Leo Murray collecting compostable goods from Excelso Coffee which is a participants of Tauranga City Council's Organic Waste Diversion Project. Photo: Supplied

BOPRC senior project implementation officer Reece Irving says the fund supports projects offering new, innovative or collaborative ways to manage or reduce waste and benefit Bay communities.

'We know there are a heap of good ideas out there already being actioned and we are keen to get behind these initiatives and give them a boost.”

In 2015, Tauranga City Council received $13,500 in funding for their Organic Waste Diversion Project which sees coffee grounds and food scraps diverted from the landfill.

While in its infancy, 43 businesses are already on board and diverting on average 2.3 tonnes from the landfill per month.

Flying Burrito Brothers, Barrio Brothers and Rye Kitchen co-owner Warren Lippi-Smith says the project is a great initiative to be part of and an easy change for them to make.

'Collectively, through the bins we have been provided, we have diverted around 9.5 tonnes of waste since November 2015 and we could easily do more.

'Anything we can do to address the issue of food waste, in our industry especially, is a really good thing,” says Warren.

The Waste Resources Advisory Group is a collaboration between district and city councils, community groups, Toi Te Ora Public Health and a variety of industry and businesses with an interest in managing waste.

Applications are now open for 2016 WRAG fund and close at 5pm on Friday, July 1. For more information visit www.boprc.govt.nz/wrag