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Community Waste Minimisation Fund

The Community Waste Minimisation Fund FY2026/27 will open 28 September 2026.

Do you have a great idea for a project that will help move our community towards zero waste?

You might be eligible for funding through our Community Waste Minimisation Fund.

Fund criteria:

  • Align with the vision, goals, and objectives of the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2026–2032.
  • Take place within Southland or be for the benefit of the Southland Community.
  • Focus on reuse, recycling, and recovery of waste and diverted materials.
  • Can become financially self-sustainable.
  • Use the funds accordingly within 6 months of offering applicants a grant.
  • Be from a legal entity or fall under an umbrella legal entity.
  • Lead to measurable waste minimisation outcomes.

How to Apply

The Community Waste Minimisation Fund FY2026/27 will open 28 September 2026.

  1. Read the Application Guide and Application Process documents.
  2. Download and complete the Community Waste Minimisation Fund Application Form.
  3. Send your completed application to wastenet@icc.govt.nz.

Please note: Applications can only be submitted using the application document. If you are unable to type into the form directly, please print a copy and complete by hand. We recommend that you keep a copy of your completed application for your own references.

Past recipients

Fiordland Community Garden

Fiordland Community Garden received funding to expand its community composting programme and help reduce organic waste sent to landfill. The project will provide new composting infrastructure, including three additional carbon composting bins, alongside workshops for the community, schools, and early childhood centres. Participants will learn practical composting methods suited to different homes and lifestyles. Affordable compost bins and one-on-one support will help households establish backyard composting systems. By combining education, practical resources, and ongoing support, the project will encourage more people to compost at home, reduce waste, and build long-term community knowledge of waste minimisation.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity received funding to establish a whiteware recovery and reconditioning programme that diverts unwanted appliances from landfill and gives them a second life. Working with local transfer stations, the project will collect, repair, and redistribute quality appliances through Habitat ReStores, while responsibly recycling items beyond repair. The initiative aims to divert 500–700 appliances from landfill each year, create a full-time job, and improve access to affordable household essentials. By extending the life of valuable resources, the project supports waste minimisation, strengthens the circular economy, and delivers lasting environmental and community benefits.

Te Anau School

Te Anau School received funding to improve its composting, recycling, and rubbish systems while embedding waste minimisation into everyday learning. The project includes new hot composting bins, clearly labelled waste stations in every classroom, and a practical education programme for students and staff. Working alongside organisations such as Environment Southland and WasteNet, the school will strengthen its waste management practices and encourage sustainable habits both at school and at home. By combining improved infrastructure with hands-on learning, the project will reduce waste sent to landfill and inspire environmental stewardship across the wider school community.

Zac March

Zac March received funding to expand his community soft plastics recycling initiative in Te Anau. Having already diverted more than 130 kg of soft plastics from landfill, the project builds on this success by increasing collection opportunities for both households and local businesses. Funding will support the expansion of collection and recycling systems, making it easier for the community to recycle soft plastics that cannot be processed through standard kerbside recycling. The project will help reduce plastic waste sent to landfill, encourage responsible recycling behaviours, and strengthen local waste minimisation efforts through greater community participation.

Rimu School

Rimu School received funding to establish its Waste Warrior Recycling Station and improve waste minimisation across the school. The project will introduce clear systems for reducing, reusing, and recycling, with designated collection and sorting areas to make waste separation easy and consistent. Alongside the new infrastructure, students and staff will take part in education that builds understanding of why waste minimisation matters and how everyday actions can make a difference. By embedding sustainable practices into school life, the initiative will reduce waste sent to landfill and encourage students to share these habits with their whānau and wider community.

Tech Collect

Tech Collect received funding to introduce free e-waste reuse and recycling services across Southland and Gore. The project will provide convenient drop-off points at Noel Leeming stores, making it easier for residents to dispose of unwanted electronics responsibly. Collected items will be assessed for reuse, with repair undertaken where possible, while non-repairable devices will be safely recycled to recover valuable materials such as metals, glass, and plastics. The initiative aims to divert almost 12 tonnes of e-waste from landfill each year, reduce harmful substances entering the environment, and encourage responsible disposal of electronic waste across the region.

Gore Pakeke Lions Club

The Gore Pakeke Lions Club accepts recyclable items for processing, with returns going back into the community.

The main objective of this project was to improve the community’s awareness of products accepted for recycling and also to enable community members to more easily locate the site. The application also sought funding for materials to improve the efficiency of processing.

South Invercargill Rejuvenation Trust (South Alive)

South Alive is an urban rejuvenation project, led by the community, with the goal of identifying the best possible future for South Invercargill and ways to make it happen.

The Trust’s application sought funding to purchase and install recycling bins outside and inside of the foyer of The Pod community hub, and alongside the existing recycle station in The Pantry at South Alive’s facility. Due to these areas being community spaces, the recycling bins are able to be used to support efforts towards community education around recycling initiatives.

Te Hau o Te Ora Mataura

Te Hau o Te Ora Mataura is a primary health care facility located in Mataura.

The application sought funding to purchase and distribute reusable incontinence products to community members in order to reduce usage of disposable incontinence products and therefore reduce going to landfill.

Waste-Ed with Kate

Waste-Ed with Kate is an organisation which delivers education aimed at reducing waste, encouraging the reuse of items, and sharing ideas for sustainable living in daily life.

Waste-Ed with Kate were awarded funding to deliver their Waste-Ed Periods courses to selected Southland schools. The Waste Free Period Program is designed to help individuals make sustainable choices by providing education on sustainable menstrual products. It empowers participants to reduce waste, save money, and take charge of their period care in a more environmentally conscious way.

The Back 2 Basics Charitable Trust (SuperGrans Gore)

SuperGrans Gore share their knowledge and skills with people in their communities through the concept of kaitiaki mentoring and the sharing of generational knowledge.

Their application sought funding to host a series of Natural Living Workshops for the community, focused on sharing skills needed to repurpose, re-use and repair items in order to minimise waste. The workshops will also highlight how purchasing choices can impact the amount of waste we generate.

South Coast Environment Society: Completely Compost Project

The main objective of this project was to promote home and community composting to minimise and divert waste from landfills. In addition to training and educating members of the community to provide guidance and support to help others with composting, the South Coast Environment Society’s aim was to establish several public locations.

Learn more about the Completely Compost Project.

Bluff 2024 Urban Rejuvenation Group Trust

Application for funding was to purchase 100 bin clips to be distributed to the Bluff residents that are most impacted by the strong winds in order to prevent bins from spreading rubbish when blown over. The second portion of the funding requested was allocated for a clothing bin to be located in the Bluff Centre.

Aurora College: Sustainability Friday Programme

Aurora College’s Sustainability Programme aims to reduce the amount of food waste that ends up in landfills by composting food scraps into garden compost to grow more food. The food grown using this technology was used for food classes and the Healthy Lunches Programme, which provides lunches to 600 students.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are committed to helping our community minimise and managing waste and recycling effectively. Take a look below for great tips to help your household or business play your part.

If you’re question is not answered below, you can email any further questions to wastenet@icc.govt.nz

Inspire us with your great idea to rethink/redesign, reduce, reuse/repurpose. Projects must achieve the following objectives:

  • Waste Reduction – Reducing waste at source and/or
  • Resource Recovery – Diverting waste from landfill

The aim is to support initiatives that complement and enhance existing programmes, address gaps, create new opportunities, and encourage community participation in waste minimisation.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply for support from WasteNet Community Waste Minimisation Fund, the project must meet the following criteria:

  • Align with the vision, goals, and objective of Southland Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2026-2032.
  • Take place within the Southland Region and be for the benefit of the Southland Community.
  • Be from a legal entity or fall under an umbrella legal entity
  • The applicant must have no outstanding debt owing to WasteNet, Gore District Council, Invercargill City Council or Southland District Council.
  • The applicant must comply with all WasteNet and/or Invercargill City Council regulatory and statutory requirements relating to the preparation and delivery of the project, including obtaining all necessary permits and consents.
  • Projects must not have breached previous funding and legislative agreements with the abovementioned councils, including reporting criteria.
  • The applicant must fully declare any additional council or local board funding, grant or koha/ donation received for the project/event.
  • Applicants must specify additional funding from their own or other resources, and/or in kind.

The fund is open to public including community groups, businesses, Iwi/Maori organisations, and education providers within the Southland region.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply for support from WasteNet Community Waste Minimisation Fund, the project must meet the following criteria:

  • Align with the vision, goals, and objective of Southland Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2026-2032.
  • Take place within the Southland Region and be for the benefit of the Southland Community.
  • Be from a legal entity or fall under an umbrella legal entity
  • The applicant must have no outstanding debt owing to WasteNet, Gore District Council, Invercargill City Council or Southland District Council.
  • The applicant must comply with all WasteNet and/or Invercargill City Council regulatory and statutory requirements relating to the preparation and delivery of the project, including obtaining all necessary permits and consents.
  • Projects must not have breached previous funding and legislative agreements with the abovementioned councils, including reporting criteria.
  • The applicant must fully declare any additional council or local board funding, grant or koha/ donation received for the project/event.
  • Applicants must specify additional funding from their own or other resources, and/or in kind.

A contestable fund of $100,000 is available for the 2026/27 year. Funding is exclusive of GST – your organisation will be responsible for meeting its GST obligations if registered.

There are a range of different types of projects that would be considered eligible for funding. Examples of acceptable activities are:

  • Trials and pilot projects
  • Community outreach and education
  • Workshops, events, monitoring and surveys
  • Materials and equipment
  • Skills development and research (that is not aimed at supporting the attainment of a qualification)
  • Project implementation costs including operational and capital costs.
  • Payment of staff time for specific deliverables. Ongoing staff salaries and wages is excluded.

The Fund cannot be used for:

  • Projects that are inconsistent with the Southland Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2026-2032 (WMMP)
  • Activities already completed.
  • Projects outside of the Southland Region that do not have a clear benefit to the Southland community.
  • Projects focused on waste disposal or litter clean-ups
  • Debt servicing or repayment.
  • Feasibility studies and business cases
  • Costs in preparing an application
  • Marketing programmes
  • Staff salaries or wages
  • Ongoing financial support of existing activities or running costs of the existing activities of organisations, individuals, or firms.
  • Prize money
  • Legal expenses
  • Conventions, conferences, trade shows, private functions, catering or media
  • Purchasing or leasing a vehicle
  • Purchase of land or buildings or the improvement of privately owned facilities
  • Rent or accommodation cost
  • Purchase of alcohol, tobacco, illegal substances, or gaming
  • Fundraising

  • Applications will be available online to download. The application can be emailed to wastenet@icc.govt.nz.
  • We will only accept complete applications so please answer all questions.
  • Any supporting documentation must be included as part of your application. Please clearly state your project or applicant name on all supporting documents submitted.
  • Applicants must include a detailed project budget as part of their application.

Applications will be assessed by the WasteNet Panel based on the following criteria:

Criteria Outcomes and Objectives
Strategic Alignment Aligned with Waste Management and Minimisation Plan vision, goals, and objectives.
This includes alignment with the waste hierarchy, with a preference for projects that target the top of the hierarchy.
Waste Minimisation Either a) waste reduction – reducing waste at source and/or,
b) resource recovery – diverting waste from landfill
Community Participation Community participation is achieved
Tangible community benefit is delivered

Behaviour is changed

Value Gaps and opportunities in existing waste minimisation services and projects are addressed
Quality The project has clear outcomes that are specific and ideally measurable.
The organisation making the proposal can demonstrate the ability to carry out the project, ideally shown by experience in projects of a similar nature.
The project is technically and financially feasible and does not represent an unacceptable level of risk to the councils and community.

  • Once the fund closes, all applications will be checked for completion.
  • Your application will be assessed and scored by WasteNet panel.
  • You may be contacted by the panel to answer any questions specific to your application.

  • Following evaluation, all applicants will be notified in writing about whether their application has been successful or not.
  • If you are successful, you will need to invoice WasteNet for the funds that have been approved.
  • Funding will be paid into an approved account on 20th of the following month, following receipt of an invoice from the applicant.

  • Successful applicants are required to complete an accountability form within 6 months of funds being issued. This is to demonstrate that project objectives were achieved and evidence that funding was used for the purpose it was allocated for.
  • WasteNet reserves the right to contact you for an update at any time throughout your project.
  • The Council may audit successful recipients. This may include a visit from council staff during or on completion of the project.
  • The project must be delivered within the planned timeframe. After which the project objectives should have been achieved.

Still have questions?

Get in touch by emailing wastenet@icc.govt.nz.

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