Deadline: September 30, 2025
The Taupō District Council Waste Minimisation Fund Grant offers individuals, community groups, schools, and organisations the opportunity to access funding for projects that contribute to reducing waste and supporting a sustainable future.
The purpose of the Taupō District Council Waste Minimisation Fund Grant is to provide individuals, community groups and organisations with the opportunity to fund initiatives that: Reduce the generation of waste, Encourage the reuse and recovery of materials, Divert waste from landfill through reuse, repair, recycling, and composting, Raise awareness of issues around food waste, single-use plastics, and other wastes.
Grants of up to $2,000 are available from an annual contestable fund of $10,000, sourced from the national waste levy set by the Ministry for the Environment. Taupō District Council may allocate different amounts than requested, depending on the availability of funds.
Eligibility extends to individuals, schools, businesses, iwi/Māori groups, early childhood centres, and community-based organisations within the Taupō District. Projects must take place within the district and primarily benefit the Taupō community while contributing to waste minimisation and landfill reduction. Applicants are expected to show clear objectives, financial responsibility, measurable outcomes, and a commitment to reporting progress. The funds must be used within one year of allocation.
Funding will not cover litter pick-ups, waste disposal services, operating costs, existing or completed projects, or projects outside the Taupō District. Only initiatives aligned with the Taupō District Council Waste Management and Minimisation Plan will be considered.
Applications are open from 9am Monday 1 September until 4.30pm Tuesday 30 September 2025, with late applications not accepted. A review panel of Council staff will assess projects based on alignment with key waste issues, minimisation, reuse, recycling, and recovery initiatives. Successful applicants will be required to submit a final written report within one year.
Past recipients of the fund include the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge, which replaced plastic cable ties with reusable bungee toggle ties, a child car seat recycling trial under the SeatSmart programme, and a motel worm farm project supported by the grant.
For more information, visit Taupō District Council.
