Te Pūtea Whakamauru Para: Waste Minimisation Fund

Dates

No fixed rounds: apply any time.

What it funds

• Organic waste diversion infrastructure
• Food waste reduction
• Composting and processing facilities
• Feasibility studies

What it will not fund

• Business-as-usual operating costs
• Projects already started
• Administration or fundraising costs
• Buying land

Good to know

Minimum grant is $100,000 for studies and $250,000 for projects, and it only covers part of the cost. Local council waste funds suit small groups better.

Open year-round; enquiries answered within three weeks, monthly moderation of applications.

Checklist

What Waste Minimisation Fund says you need:

• Legal entity
• Co-funding (fund pays up to 50% for public good projects)

Common things funders ask for, worth having ready:

• What exactly is the money for, and when will you spend it?
• How much do you need, and do you have quotes under three months old?
• Who benefits, and how many people?
• Your legal name, registration number and bank account in the group's name.
• A committee or board decision approving the application (some funders want a signed resolution).
• Your latest financial statements or annual return.
• Other funders you have applied to for the same thing.

Ticks are saved on this device only.

Sources

What we relied on, in the funder's own words.

• Open for applicationsenvironment.govt.nz/what-you-can-do/funding/waste-minimisation-fund · read 17 October 2026
• Any New Zealand-based legal entity can apply for funding.environment.govt.nz/what-you-can-do/funding/waste-minimisation-fund · read 17 October 2026
• We are currently only accepting proposals that focus on diverting organic waste from landfill.environment.govt.nz/what-you-can-do/funding/waste-minimisation-fund · read 17 October 2026
• $250,000 – for all other project typesenvironment.govt.nz/what-you-can-do/funding/waste-minimisation-fund · read 17 October 2026
• Ongoing business-as-usual costs, like regular operating expenses.environment.govt.nz/what-you-can-do/funding/waste-minimisation-fund · read 17 October 2026

Report a mistake

Spot something wrong? Reporting opens when the site launches. Until then, check the funder's own page linked above.