Coast groups win funding

Three Hibiscus Coast organisations are among more than 40 recipients of Auckland Council funding aimed at reducing waste and supporting community-led initiatives.

Ōrewa College, Whangaparāoa School and Estuary Arts Charitable Trust have all secured grants through Council’s Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund (WMIF).

Ōrewa College will install a commercial-grade composting machine to process food waste generated at the school. The system will complement existing composting efforts, with the finished compost used in school gardens and Envirogroup planting projects.

Whangaparāoa School will introduce resource recovery stations in classrooms to help students learn how to separate waste and reduce what goes to landfill.

Estuary Arts Charitable Trust will use its funding for a clay reclaim and recycle project, which will turn used clay from classes at Estuary Arts Centre into reusable material, reducing waste.

Across Auckland, a total of $592,000 has been allocated in the latest funding round, with a strong focus on schools and community groups. More than half of the grants are $5000 or less, supporting practical, hands-on waste reduction projects.

Community Committee chair Julie Fairey says local initiatives play a key role in achieving long-term waste goals.

“Getting to zero waste requires change to systems, and these grants allow communities to test new ways to deal with waste at the local level,” she says.

“Schools and local community groups are often well placed to support neighbourhood projects, creating new pathways for waste and helping Auckland move towards its goal of zero waste by 2040.”

Larger grants of between $20,000 and $50,000 have also been awarded to support projects with potential to scale up across the region, including initiatives targeting e-waste, textiles and construction waste.

The WMIF is funded through the Ministry for the Environment’s waste disposal levy and supports projects that reduce waste sent to landfill while promoting resource recovery.