Latest news with #WasteMinimisationCommunityFund
Scoop
5 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Turning Waste Into Wins: Thirteen Local Projects Supported With $60K In QLDC Funding
Through its Waste Minimisation Community Fund (WMCF), Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is once again backing passionate locals who are taking action to reduce waste and promote the sustainable use of resources. The fund supports projects that cut waste, recover valuable materials, and contribute to a more sustainable future for the district and its communities. This year, thirteen local projects are being supported to help reduce waste across the district, including initiatives such as low-waste parenting workshops, retirement village education programmes, sustainable party packs to loan from a local toy library, and the reuse of surplus building materials. 'What makes this year's projects so exciting is their strong focus on practicality and community impact,' said QLDC Sustainability Advisor Emma Brockie. 'We've been really impressed with the hands-on solutions proposed to address a variety of waste challenges.' The WMCF is an annual contestable fund open to community groups, schools, businesses, iwi/Māori organisations, and individuals. It includes $50,000 to support community action and behaviour change projects, and $10,000 toward commercial waste minimisation, sponsored by WM New Zealand. This year's round saw 20 applications submitted over five weeks, requesting close to $200,000 in total. A panel of QLDC staff and an elected member carefully assessed each application to ensure alignment with fund goals. Thanks to the WMCF, the Wakatipu Toy Library will soon offer reusable party packs with themed decorations, tableware, and age-appropriate toys, making kids' parties more affordable, fun, and low-waste. Adaptive Snowsports Whakatipu Charitable Trust is using WMCF funding to repurpose ski clothing left behind by guests visiting local ski fields in Queenstown into unique skirts that will be practical and fun. The skirts will be created from ski clothing, sleeping bags, toggles and ties from gloves, elastic from googles, and anything else that can be reused, upcycled and reimagined and kept out of landfill. This year's WMCF is also supporting Waste Education for Retirement Villages, a series of fun and practical sessions led by educator Kate Fenwick. Designed for older adults, the sessions offer simple, age-appropriate ways to reduce household waste. Topics include reusable incontinence products, food waste reduction, recycling, and low-waste living. 'These community-led projects empower people to take simple, everyday action that collectively moves us closer to becoming a zero-waste district,' said Ms Brockie. For more about the Waste Minimisation Community Fund, visit FURTHER INFORMATION | Kā pāroko tāpiri: 2025/26 Waste Minimisation Community Fund recipients: · Adaptive Snowsports Whakatipu Charitable Trust - Snoskirz · Aspire Preschool and Nursery - Little Sprouts, Big Impact: Composting for a Zero Waste Future · CaliWoods Limited - Natural, Low-Waste Parenting: Workshops for Expecting and New Parents · Cameron Tippett - Recycled Filament Project · Dripping Bowl - Glass bottle return scheme; For more than just milk · Ian Fitzpatrick - The Trash Goblin · KingsView School - Compost System for our School · Merino Muster Limited - Sip smart - coming to your aid at the Muster · Natacha Murphy - Sustainable Cycles: Making Reusable Period Products Accessible · Protect Our Winters New Zealand Incorporated - Sustainable Slopes: Repair, Swap, and Learn · Wakatipu Toy Library - Sustainable Party Packs · Waste-Ed with Kate - Waste Minimisation Education in QLDC Retirement Villages · Women's Shed Aotearoa (formally known as Women's Shed Queenstown) - 'From Offcut to Opportunity': Diverting Surplus Building Materials through Reuse and Skill-Building
Otago Daily Times
07-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
QLDC seek feedback on waste management plan
PHOTO: ODT FILES Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) released its draft Waste Management Minimisation Plan last week and is welcoming community engagement. After being adopted for consultation by the QLDC on Tuesday, the draft plan outlines an ambitious vision to move towards zero waste and a circular economy. The plan is updated every six years under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 and outlines how the district will manage and reduce waste. The current draft focuses on an approach that uses the right tools, services and facilities to work on changing behaviours and better managing waste and used materials. Communities will have the opportunity to provide feedback during the public consultation which will close on June 30. "This WMMP is a draft, and we invite everyone to provide feedback on whether you think these are the right actions to take together," QLDC strategy planning manager Sophie Mander said. "This is a crucial opportunity for the community to help us define the next chapter." Since the 2018 plan was adopted, progress has included a new three-bin kerbside collection service, boosted public education, introduced both the community composting hubs and the annual Waste Minimisation Community Fund and furthered a commitment to a future kerbside organics collection. Partnerships with local organisations including Wastebusters, Sustainable Queenstown and Wao have also been key to helping reduce waste. As part of developing the draft, the QLDC hosted stakeholder workshops and a public webinar in September 2024 which helped shape the priorities and actions outlined in the plan. "We've worked with key groups in our community to shape a new direction for how we respond to the waste challenges in our district," QLDC infrastructure committee chairman Gavin Bartlett said. "Council has an important part to play in leading this work, but minimising our waste will require our community to work together, collaborating on opportunities and making change happen." Although legislation requires the council to write the WMMP, the plan will only be successful if members of the community work together to make it happen. Community members can explore the plan and contribute further via an online engagement platform. Public engagement opportunities will also be held over June. — APL
Scoop
30-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Have Your Say On The District's Proposed Waste Management And Minimisation Plan 2025
Press Release – Queenstown Lakes District Council Although legislation requires Council to write the WMMP, the plan will only be successful if everyone in our community works together to make it happen. Together Towards Zero Waste And A Circular Economy Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has today released its draft Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) and is asking the community to have its say during the public consultation from today until 30 June, with the ambitious goal of creating a waste-free future for our district. After being adopted for consultation by Council yesterday, the draft WMMP outlines a bold vision to move together towards zero waste and a circular economy. The plan focuses on an approach that avoids waste altogether by changing our behaviours, or manages waste and used materials better with the right tools, services, and facilities. As part of developing the draft, QLDC hosted stakeholder workshops and a public webinar in September 2024. Input from these sessions helped shape the priorities and actions outlined in the plan. 'We've worked with key groups in our community to shape a new direction for how we respond to the waste challenges in our district. Council has an important part to play in leading this work, but minimising our waste will require our community to work together, collaborating on opportunities and making change happen,' said Cllr Gavin Bartlett, QLDC Infrastructure Committee Chair and member of the waste working group. Although legislation requires Council to write the WMMP, the plan will only be successful if everyone in our community works together to make it happen. 'Changing the story of how our district's waste is minimised or managed relies on working together on innovative but achievable solutions. This WMMP is a draft, and we invite everyone to provide feedback on whether you think these are the right actions to take, together,' said Sophie Mander, QLDC Strategy Planning Manager (Waste Minimisation). The plan is updated every six years under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 and outlines how the district will manage and reduce waste. Since the 2018 plan was adopted, progress has included a new three-bin kerbside collection service, boosted public education, introduced community composting hubs and the annual Waste Minimisation Community Fund, and furthered a commitment to a future kerbside organics collection. Partnerships with local organisations including Wastebusters, Sustainable Queenstown, and Wao have also been key to helping reduce waste. 'Progress has been made, but there's still a long way to go,' said Sophie. 'This is a crucial opportunity for the community to help us define the next chapter.' Community members can explore the plan and contribute further via an online engagement platform. Various public engagement opportunities will also be held over June.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Have Your Say On The District's Proposed Waste Management And Minimisation Plan 2025
Together Towards Zero Waste And A Circular Economy Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has today released its draft Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) and is asking the community to have its say during the public consultation from today until 30 June, with the ambitious goal of creating a waste-free future for our district. After being adopted for consultation by Council yesterday, the draft WMMP outlines a bold vision to move together towards zero waste and a circular economy. The plan focuses on an approach that avoids waste altogether by changing our behaviours, or manages waste and used materials better with the right tools, services, and facilities. As part of developing the draft, QLDC hosted stakeholder workshops and a public webinar in September 2024. Input from these sessions helped shape the priorities and actions outlined in the plan. 'We've worked with key groups in our community to shape a new direction for how we respond to the waste challenges in our district. Council has an important part to play in leading this work, but minimising our waste will require our community to work together, collaborating on opportunities and making change happen," said Cllr Gavin Bartlett, QLDC Infrastructure Committee Chair and member of the waste working group. Although legislation requires Council to write the WMMP, the plan will only be successful if everyone in our community works together to make it happen. 'Changing the story of how our district's waste is minimised or managed relies on working together on innovative but achievable solutions. This WMMP is a draft, and we invite everyone to provide feedback on whether you think these are the right actions to take, together,' said Sophie Mander, QLDC Strategy Planning Manager (Waste Minimisation). The plan is updated every six years under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 and outlines how the district will manage and reduce waste. Since the 2018 plan was adopted, progress has included a new three-bin kerbside collection service, boosted public education, introduced community composting hubs and the annual Waste Minimisation Community Fund, and furthered a commitment to a future kerbside organics collection. Partnerships with local organisations including Wastebusters, Sustainable Queenstown, and Wao have also been key to helping reduce waste. 'Progress has been made, but there's still a long way to go,' said Sophie. 'This is a crucial opportunity for the community to help us define the next chapter.' Community members can explore the plan and contribute further via an online engagement platform. Various public engagement opportunities will also be held over June.
