Tauranga City Council iha announced that applications are open for its annual Resource Wise Community Fund, supporting local initiatives aimed at reducing waste to landfill.

With grants of up to $25,000 available from a total pool of $100,000, individuals, community groups, businesses, iwi/Māori organisations, and educational providers are encouraged to submit applications for waste minimisation projects by Friday, June 13.

Building on the success of previous years, which saw impressive contributions from a range of recipients including Bin Inn Papamoa, A&J Demolition, Confidential Document Destruction, Emroce, Sustainability Options, Envirohub, AgainAgain events, Good Neighbour, Pacific Coast Village, and the Restaurant Association of New Zealand, the Resource Wise Community Fund continues to champion innovative solutions to reduce landfill waste.

Daniel Smith, Manager of Sustainability and Waste at Tauranga City Council, emphasised the importance of community-led waste reduction initiatives.

"We can all contribute towards reducing waste and its impact on our communities. Our fund is intended to help bring innovative ideas to life by removing monetary barriers for organisations and businesses keen to reduce waste in Tauranga.”

Aligned with the Waste Management Minimisation Plan 2022 – 2028, the 2025 Resource Wise Community Fund aims to support projects that reduce material consumption, promote reuse and repair, prevent food waste, and identify opportunities to transition to a circular economy.

Grants range from $2,000 to $25,000 from a pool of $100,000. The fund is sourced from the Waste Levy, provided to councils by the Ministry for the Environment for waste minimisation education, and does not impose additional costs on general rates.

Projects funded by the Resource Wise Community Fund must meet specific criteria outlined on the Tauranga City Council website. Interested applicants can access the online application form, guidelines, and funding criteria at www.tauranga.govt.nz/rwcommunityfund.

For assistance with applications, please contact [email protected].