Porirua City Council has approved a new grant scheme aimed at supporting local projects that reduce waste and promote sustainability, marking a significant step towards the city’s waste reduction goals.
The Waste Minimisation Grant scheme, approved at a full council meeting this morning, will begin in the 2025/26 financial year as a 12-month pilot. It will be funded through the Waste Levy Subsidy and is part of the Council’s broader 2023–29 Waste Management and Minimisation Plan.
The scheme offers two funding tiers: grants of up to $30,000 available through a single application round, and smaller grants of up to $2,000 accessible year-round.
Porirua City Councillor Geoff Hayward, a representative on the Wellington Region Waste Management and Minimisation Joint Committee, said the initiative empowers communities to be part of the solution.
“It’s the kind of initiative that reflects the best of what local government can do,” Hayward said. “It’s backing communities to lead solutions using existing levers wisely.”
Projects eligible for funding will include those that encourage waste reduction at the source and initiatives aligned with circular economy principles, such as redesign, reuse, repair, and repurposing.
“We want to see initiatives that create new opportunities and encourage community participation in waste minimisation,” Hayward added.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker praised the grant scheme as a positive move for the city’s environmental future.
“This is another way that we can work towards making our communities more healthy and encourage more people to get involved in positive outcomes,” she said.
Further details on how to apply will be released once the programme framework is finalised.