The Waste Minimisation Act 2008 places responsibility on local government (territorial authorities) to promote effective and efficient waste management and minimisation within their districts.

Apply for the Waste Minimisation Grant

Applications open on 1 May and close on 31 May 2026. 

Please check the eligibility(external link) of your request before filling out an application form.

For assistance, email cwjc@ccc.govt.nz.

The Canterbury Waste Joint Committee is responsible for advancing regional solid waste and hazardous waste minimisation in Canterbury. Regional waste minimisation initiatives actioned by the Committee are in addition to member Councils' responsibilities as required by the Waste Minimisation Act 2008, and as set out in each Councils' respective waste minimisation plan.

For projects that have a local application only, please see your council for available funding. The following Councils are represented on the Committee. For more information on this regional fund, please contact your council and ask to speak to a waste staff member.

Environment Canterbury staff provide ongoing advice relating to minimising hazardous wastes and substances.

The Committee's Constituting Agreement [PDF, 23 KB] and Regional Waste Agreement [PDF, 7 KB] govern its operations. Decisions on grants are made by the elected members of the member Councils meeting as the Canterbury Waste Joint Committee, based on written Staff Group reports.

Projects supported by the Committee aim to link strategically with initiatives run by national organisations including WasteMINZ, Local Government NZ and the Ministry for the Environment. Government procurement can and should be used to support wider social, economic, cultural and environmental outcomes.

Contact details

Email questions and applications to cwjc@ccc.govt.nz.

The Committee annually invites proposals for suitable waste minimisation project proposals within the Canterbury region.

Proposals assessed to be of sufficient potential value and meeting the criteria set out below will be presented to the Committee. The total annual budget for all projects is $126,000.

  • Only waste minimisation projects with broad regional application in Canterbury will be considered. 
  • Individual grants will be limited to no more than $50,000 (excluding internal staff time).
  • Co-funding from other sources of a minimum of 40% of total project costs will be preferred. Where possible projects should demonstrate cross-sector support/participation and/or ongoing viability.
  • The applicant must be a legal entity.

  • Contribute towards one or more of: Waste avoidance; Reduction of waste to landfill; Recovery of resources.
  • Demonstrated ability by the applicant to deliver the project and relevant track record of applicant. 
  • Clearly identified measurability of outcomes.
  • Circular economy principles should be considered, where relevant (e.g. the whole lifecycle of a product is accounted for).
  • Projects fostering innovation are preferred.
  • Details of self-funding and co-funding contributions for the proposed project must be provided.

  • Online applications(external link) must be received by no later than 31 May 2026.
  • In June, the Committee's Staff Group will assess applications to shortlist proposals. The Staff Group may request additional information or clarification.
  • The Staff Group will submit all applications received and evaluated to the Committee, plus a shortlist of proposed projects for consideration by the Committee.
  • In August, the Committee will consider and select successful projects. Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email of the outcome shortly thereafter.

Project Year Applicant Description Funding
Trash to Treasure 2025 Climate Action Campus Ōtautahi/Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery Diverts reusable construction and homeware materials from landfill to schools and communities across Canterbury. The site will be upgraded with the addition of a shelter to protect materials and ensure they remain in good condition for reuse. $7,850.00
Reduce, Reduce! 2025 Little River School Hungry Bins to turn food scraps into vermicast for the school’s vegetable garden. Reduces waste and teaches students how organic recycling supports growth and sustainability. $1,282.00
Scaling Impact through Sustainable Food Rescue and Recovery 2025 Kairos Food Rescue Expands food recovery operations to reduce edible food waste to landfill, promote circular economy outcomes, and increase capacity through fleet upgrades and technology improvements. $20,000.00
Reducing and Repurposing 3D Printer Waste 2025 University of Canterbury Develops a lab programme to reduce and repurpose 3D printing waste, audit regional sources, and embed sustainable practices in engineering education while fostering innovation and reducing landfill impact. $27,532.00
Sustainable Comfort: Reusable Solutions for Aged Care 2025 Waste-Ed With Kate Limited Delivers education and support to 10 Canterbury retirement villages to reduce single-use incontinence waste through workshops, product trials, and ongoing guidance, promoting reusable solutions and sustainability awareness. $43,000.00
Fabric Recycling 2025 TwinNeedle Limited Trials recycling nylon fabric offcuts by sending them to Impact Tec Textile Recycling to be transformed into recycled rigid panels, reducing textile waste. $4,836.00
Spout Milk on Tap - Canterbury - Reusable Kegs and Pump System 2025 Spout Alternatives Limited Introduces an electric pump tap system for hospitality outlets to dispense milk from reusable kegs without nitrogen cylinders, improving efficiency, reducing milk waste, and cutting single-use plastic bottle waste. $12,000.00
Ao Tawhiti Unlimited 
Discovery – Climate Action 
Campus		 2024 Climate Action Campus 
Trash 2 Treasure		 This initiative diverts clean Batts offcuts and construction waste to community groups and the public, using a staffed collection site at the Climate Action Campus to reduce landfill waste and emissions. $5,000
Repurposing redundant 
truck curtains		 2024 Naylor Love Canterbury  Repurposing redundant truck curtains into timber pack covers. $10,000
Subcontractor waste 
awareness sessions		 2024 Naylor Love Canterbury This project raises awareness among Construction subcontractors regarding the industry's landfill impact, promotes sustainability initiatives, and collects data to measure progress in construction waste reduction. $3,000
Timber Diversion  2024 Halswell Menzshed Trust  Collect timber, including pallets and packaging, for reuse in community projects. $5,000
Laptop Repair Workshops 2024 Digital Future Aotearoa  Divert laptops from waste, refurbishes them for young people in need, teaches repair skills, and promotes e-waste reduction, sustainable consumption, and digital equity. $20,000
Developing corporate and 
construction resource 
recovery system		 2024 All Heart NZ Charitable 
Trus		 Improving corporate sustainability by diverting resources from landfills in the Canterbury region by developing people through All Heart Stores. $25,000
Waste Free Period 
Programme		 2024 Waste-Ed with Kate Ltd  The programme educates students and staff of 22 secondary schools in Canterbury on reusable product options and provides free reusable products for participants to encourage long-term waste reduction habits. $30,000
Rewashable service ware 
systems establishment		 2024 Without Waste Ltd  This project trials reusable cup systems at events to reduce packaging waste and bin misuse and contamination. $14,000
Sustainable Pest Monitoring Cards Research 2023 Lincoln University Development of wood pulp chew/bite mark analysis cards to replace the plastic coreflute cards used in public 
spaces, such as parks, throughout NZ for pest monitoring programmes.		 $15,000
All Heart NZ-  South Island First Hub 2023 All Heart NZ Pickup and reuse of bulk quantities of difficult-to-rehome office/school and business-type fitout items which are 
frequently landfilled due to a lack of alternatives.		 $26,500
Recycle a Device - RAD 2023 Digital Future Aotearoa (Recycle a Device) Free laptop repair workshops with a focus on rural communities in Canterbury, rehoming laptops and e-devices to community support organisations for distribution to those in need.  $20,000
Textile Waste Reduction and Education 2023 Walk LIGHTLY Connecting offcut and redundant stock textiles with the garment industry throughout Canterbury and providing education around textile waste in NZ. $10,000
North Canterbury Waste Minimisation Hub 2023 Kaiapoi Community Hub Trust (Satisfy Food Rescue) Contribution towards a Waste Minimisation Hub for North Canterbury to run food rescue activities and waste reduction workshops, repair cafes, etc. $20,000
Te Ao Māori Zero Waste Education 2023 Para Kore Marae Incorporated Te Ao Māori zero waste education through targeted workshops to Marae, Kura and general community organisations, including setting up proven systems to drop waste volumes produced onsite. $10,500
Community Carpentry and Waste Education 2023 Cook Brothers Construction Free community workshops to teach carpentry and repair skills, and use of construction project offcuts to make furniture for community spaces, and provide education around waste in the construction and demolition 
industry in NZ.		 $10,000
Event Waste Reduction Planning 2022 A and P Show(external link) Waste reduction feasibility study for a large event that can be shared with other large agricultural events. $10,000
Repair Café project 2022 Te Puna Auaha Lyttelton Trust Board(external link) Items to set up a repair café for the community to have assistance fixing broken items. $15,600
Second-hand bike repairs 2022  Rad bikes(external link) Recycling and repairing bikes using second-hand parts. $16,500
Repair and reuse of medical items 2022  Medsalv(external link) Repair and certified sanitisation of single-use medical devices for safe reuse. $14,999
PVC pipe recycling 2022  Rx Plastics(external link) Project to allow for PVC pipes to be recycled rather than landfilled. $16,200
Food waste reduction app 2022  Foodprint(external link) App for cafes and the public to connect to reduce waste of highly perishable and difficult-to-donate food goods. $42,200
School lunches waste reduction 2022  Waipara School(external link) Provision of a system to reduce single-use packaging and food waste. $2,500
School lunches waste reduction 2022  Leithfield School(external link) Provision of a system to reduce single-use packaging and food waste. $4,000
Bike repair skills 2021 Waimakariri District Council(external link) Support for employment and skills taught in bike repairs on second hand bikes and parts. $10,000
Case Study for Linen Use Reduction 2021 Canterbury Linen Services(external link) Investigation into the reduction of fabrics going to landfill. $21,000
School Food Waste Reduction Project   2021 Nourish Oraka Ltd(external link) Food Waste Reduction – Durable Lunch Boxes. $3,186
Workshops to Reduce Textile Waste 2021 Stitch O Mat Community workshops to provide sewing machines and lessons to teach repair skills reducing clothing disposed of. $6,000
School Reusable Lunch and Food Scrap Containers 2021 Kai for Kids(external link) Education to students parents and teachers on the reduction of waste from school lunches.  $979
Food Rescue Project 2021 Satisfy Food Rescue(external link) Chilled container hire to store rescued food to take to community organisations for distribution. $12,454
Waste Free Periods Education 2021 Timaru District Council(external link) Education provided to school students on reusable sanitary products. $30,842