500k funding for NI waste projects announced

Eligible applicants have until April 29 2013 to apply for the fund, for which 250,000 has been set allocated for the 2013/14 financial year and another 250,000 set aside for 2014/15.

The Rethink Waste revenue grants announced by the minister on Friday (March 29) are aimed at community and voluntary groups, the private sector, local authorities and the three sub-regional waste management groups in NI for projects that reduce landfill waste through recycling or reuse.

This is the fourth year of funding from the Department of Rethink Waste revenue funds and over the past three years 27 grants have been awarded for various projects.

Administered by the Department of Environment (DOENI) with the support of the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the Rethink Waste Fund was originally launched by then NI environment minister Edwin Poots in June 2010 with a 3.3 million pot (see letsrecycle.com story). This funding was then increased to 9.3 million over four years in April 2011 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Seven grants totalling 240,000 were given out in 2010/11, while 566,000 was awarded overall to 11 grants in 2011/12 and a total of 367,000 of funding was given to nine projects in 2012/13.

Mr Attwood said: Diverting waste from landfill is a real win-win. It benefits the environment and assists the economy by easing the burden on ratepayers, businesses and councils who ultimately pay for increasing landfill taxes.

These funds also provide much needed employment, training and volunteering opportunities in communities. I am genuinely impressed with the highly effective work of the community and voluntary sector, businesses and councils in seeking ways to minimise waste and boost recycling and reuse across Northern Ireland and I encourage all relevant organisations to apply.

FareShare

Food waste charity FareShare Island of Ireland received 10,000 through the Rethink Waste revenue fund last year.

Mabh Austin, development officer at the charity, said: The money that we received from the Rethink Waste fund meant that we could extend our food collection and distribution service to the North West. We redistribute food that would normally have gone to landfill to those in need which helps communities and the environment by diverting waste from landfill. We will be applying for this funding again this year and I encourage all other relevant organisations to apply.

Applications for the fund may be submitted in respect of projects spanning over the next two financial years, as well as those planned for just 2013/14.

Further details on the application process, including the assessment criteria, application form and guidance notes are available on the Rethink Waste website. The closing date for applications is 29 April 2013.

According to the DOENI, Northern Ireland is currently recycling 39.7% of household waste with a target of increasing this to 50% by 2020 in line with EU statutory requirements.