Funding boost for waste minimisation projects in Waipā
One of the fund recipients is Little Thinkers, a kindergarten in Cambridge, for a community compost system.
A kindergarten community composting system, a zero waste Christmas workshop and a project to repair and resell uniforms have all received a funding boost from Waipā District Council.
Each year Council has $40,000 available through its Waste Minimisation Community Fund to support local projects that rethink, reduce and reuse waste.
The fund is provided to Council by the Ministry for the Environment from the Waste Levy.
One of the 14 recipients is Little Thinkers, a kindergarten in Cambridge, for the development of a community compost system.
The kindergarten, due to open in January 2021, will purchase two CarbonCycle compost bins for onsite composting of food scraps, garden waste and compostable packaging.
Little Thinkers owner Alicia Oliver said the composting system would act as a community hub, with nearby offices, cafes and residents encouraged to drop off their organic waste to the kindergarten.
“We’re excited to inspire and educate the next generation to protect our environment by reducing the impact we are currently having.”
She said children will get hands-on experience transforming waste into a resource.
“With our new compost bins, children will be involved in the process of collecting waste, seeing the full compost cycle and then using the compost in future projects.”
Other projects to receive funding include water refill stations at Mighty River Domain, a zero waste school gala at Cambridge Primary School and menu planning workshops by Te Awamutu chef and mother Lylie Mallek.
Waste minimisation officer Sally Fraser said Council was delighted to support a range of projects that are led by residents and benefit the community.
“Funding these projects helps to support our waste leaders in their workplaces, communities and education spaces to share what they know and help others reduce waste heading to the landfill.”
The list of successful recipients can be view at www.waipadc.govt.nz/wastefund. The next round of the Waste Minimisation Community Fund opens on 7 June 2021.
