With the equivalent of 250,000 apples worth of food waste piling up, a new council waste minimisation initiative hopes to tackle its district's food waste woes.
Matamata-Piako District Council is pouring thousands into a waste minimisation fund which calls for the community to develop sustainable and innovative solutions for redirecting 40 tonnes of food waste from landfill.
The waste minimisation fund was included in the council 2021-2027 Waste Minimisation and Management Plan, which was consulted on in 2021.
Community proposals will have the opportunity to apply for up to $10,000 towards their waste minimisation projects from the waste levy (the tax Central Government charges for waste disposal).
Transition Matamata is a non-profit sustainability group promoting energy conservation, reducing toxic fertiliser and waste minimisation based in Matamata township.
Coordinator for the community group, Martin Louw says the waste minimisation fund is a decent initiative because instead of relying on kerbside food scraps and waste collection, there needs to be more sustainable and regenerative solutions to reduce waste.
The group would like to see council create a sustainability strategy, so there's an all-encompassing approach towards tackling waste.
'Everyone should essentially be composting everything that's coming out of their kitchen, either composting or worm farms, whatever their chosen set-up is, we shouldn't need to have a universal food scrap collection.
'If we can just raise awareness about the need to deal with your own waste where you can.”
The projects for the fund will mainly need to focus on reducing food waste, but other ideas will be considered, council has said.
Matamata-Piako Councillor Adrienne Wilcock, who chairs the Matamata-Piako District Council Solid Waste Committee, says she's excited to see what projects come forward.
Councillor Adrienne Wilcock says it's time to turn food waste reduction ideas into reality with the council waste minimisation fund. Photo: Rexine Hawes/Stuff.
'We're looking for innovative ideas that could be any number of things, especially with a focus on food waste and what could be done with food waste, so it doesn't end up in landfill.
'I am excited to see locals lead the charge in waste reduction through their projects that could use a kickstart through the fund.”
Applications for the Waste Minimisation Fund are open until May 13.
1 comment
solutions
Posted on 28-04-2022 00:52 | By hexsayer
Ive got it! why dont people that waste lots, eat less? doesn't sound like your run-of-the-mill corn cob or potato peel. nearly every town has a community garden these days, and if there isnt a compost heap or pigsty with empty troughs well be damned.
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