Tauranga City Council has awarded a total of $122,000 in funding to six innovative projects through its annual Resource Wise® Community Fund. These initiatives are aimed at reducing waste and promoting sustainability across the city. The funding, sourced from the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Levy, supports local efforts without impacting general rates.
Councillor Glen Crowther expressed enthusiasm for the selected recipients, praising their long-standing efforts in contributing to waste reduction and the development of a circular economy. He noted that the funding is a productive use of the government’s waste levy, helping to grow local environmental initiatives at no extra cost to residents.
Dan Smith, the Council’s Manager of Sustainability and Waste, shared that this year marked a record number of applications, with 13 proposals submitted—highlighting a strong and growing commitment within the Tauranga community to tackle sustainability challenges creatively.
The Resource Wise Community Fund is aligned with Tauranga’s Waste Management Minimisation Plan 2022–2028, which focuses on reducing material consumption, encouraging reuse and repair, preventing food waste, and advancing toward a circular economy. The funded projects span a range of goals and sectors, emphasizing collaboration and community impact.
Among the recipients, Green Bottle will pilot a programme to collect and reuse NZ-made wine bottles from local hospitality businesses, aiming to reduce carbon emissions by up to 95% compared to standard single-use recycling. Turning Point Trust will trial a textile shredder to divert waste from landfills and support circular practices in schools and social enterprises. Circularity will lead a project involving businesses, schools, and care facilities to prevent food and packaging waste collaboratively.
Other recipients include Envirohub BOP, Good Neighbour’s resource recovery center feasibility study, and One Earth Technologies’ initiative to recycle coffee cups made from PLA into usable materials for local manufacturing. These projects collectively showcase the city’s proactive steps toward environmental resilience and sustainable waste practices.
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