Waste Minimisation Fund opens
1 December 2009
The Waste Minimisation Fund opened for applications today.
The fund, part of the Waste Minimisation Act, supports initiatives aimed at reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.
The Act, passed in September 2008, created a waste disposal levy of $10 per tonne (plus GST) on all waste disposed of to landfill from 1 July 2009. The purpose is to raise revenue to promote and achieve waste minimisation and increase the cost of waste disposal to recognise that disposal imposes costs on the environment, society and economy.
The Ministry for the Environment’s Director of Operations, Martyn Pinckard, says half the levy money is allocated to territorial authorities on a population basis to be spent on waste minimisation work as set out in councils’ waste management and minimisation plans.
“The other half of the money, minus administration costs, will be allocated to waste minimisation initiatives through the fund.”
Martyn Pinckard says the Waste Minimisation Fund will provide a financial boost to initiatives which can help the country tackle broader challenges around waste management.
Criteria for the fund were established earlier this year following a public submission process.
Preference will be given to projects that provide the largest net benefit over time. The effectiveness of projects will be assessed on their ability to demonstrate the following:
- Likelihood of success
- Reduction of harm to the environment
- Reduction in the volume of waste disposed of
- Economic, environmental, social or cultural benefits, and
- Longer term benefits after the completion of the project
Collaboration between applicants is encouraged and will be taken into account when the ability of proposals to minimise waste is assessed.
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Ability to deliver the project
- How the project will achieve its goals
- How the effectiveness of the project will be monitored, evaluated and reported
- If and how the project will be used to promote waste minimisation to the wider public
- If and how the project will continue after funding ends, particularly if the funding is for the establishment phase of a longer term project
Martyn Pinckard says the fund will need to go through three or four cycles before patterns begin to emerge. “In the meantime the Ministry will be evaluating processes and fine tuning the criteria after each funding round to make improvements as time goes on.”
The first funding round will remain open for three months, closing on 1 March 2010.
Guidance material, eligibility criteria and additional information is available now on the Ministry’s website see www.mfe.govt.nz/wmf.
For more information about the fund email: wmf@mfe.govt.nz or phone 0800 499 700.
