Waste Levy Fund
Do you have an idea that could reduce or reuse waste?
We want to see a measurable decrease in the amount of waste going into our landfill. That’s why we’ve created a new Waste Levy Fund to financially support projects that avoid, reduce, recycle, recover, or reuse waste in the Stratford district.
Time to start planning...
Applications are closed right now, so it's the perfect time to start thinking about waste-busting project ideas.
Last round's application form is available below, so you can see the type of information we'll be after when applications open back up again.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with our team at WasteMinimisation@stratford.govt.nz or call 06 765 6099.
Handy documents to read

Students at Avon Primary School, a Waste Levy Fund recipient, installing new composting systems for their community garden project.
How much funding is available?
There is $25,000 available annually in the Waste Levy Fund.
Your project can be big or small. You can apply for any amount, as long as it doesn’t exceed the $25,000 we have available for each annual allocation. You can reapply for funding if your project runs for longer than one financial year.
Who can apply?
Individuals, community organisations, or not-for-profits can make an application to use the fund. Businesses can’t apply, but they can share ideas with community groups or individuals who may be eligible.
You or your organisation can be based outside of the Stratford district, but your project has to be located in, and benefit, the Stratford community.
Is my project eligible?
To successfully apply for funding, your project has to avoid, reduce, recycle, recover, or reuse waste in the Stratford district. We encourage you to be creative with your ideas.
Your project must:
- Promote or achieve waste minimisation in a way that’s consistent with our Waste Management and Minimisation Plan
- Provide benefits to the present and future needs of our district
- Result in new waste minimisation activity. This could be as a result of a new initiative, or the expansion or improvement of an existing activity
- Be able to show a measurable and positive impact after your funding ends
Projects can include, but aren’t limited to:
- Research, education or behaviour change programmes
- Infrastructure or activities that help divert resources from landfill
- The design of project stewardship schemes
- Other initiatives that can contribute to the actions and priorities in our Waste Management and Minimisation Plan
Submitting a report if you've received funding
If you’re successful in your funding request, you’ll need to submit a Waste Levy Fund Progress Report Form to detail any funds spent and the measurable reductions in waste that your project has achieved. Download the editable PDF form below and email it to WasteMinimisation@stratford.govt.nz

A volunteer repairing a broken bike during the Stratford Repair Café. The Café has received support from our Waste Levy Fund for their regular events.
Where’s the funding from?
The Government charges a levy on all waste disposed of through landfills across the country. Half of the money raised is distributed to territorial authorities, including the Stratford District Council. We’ve used this money to set up our Waste Levy Fund.
Reducing the amount of general waste going into our landfills is great for ratepayers and our environment!
Who can I contact if I have questions?
If you have any questions about the fund, eligibility, or how to apply, please get in touch with us at WasteMinimisation@stratford.govt.nz or call 06 765 6099.
Waste Levy Fund recipients
2023 / 2024
Ngaere School | $9,540 for a community recycling station at the school’s entrance |
Enviroschools / Toimata | $1,000 to deliver a Beeswax Wrap programme to local Enviroschools to reduce waste from food packaging and plastic food wraps |
Avon Kindergarten | $349 for a worm farm to reduce food waste and support the kindergarten’s kai garden |
Whangamomona Republic Inc | $4,425.90 for a mobile recycling station on a trailer that can be used by local residents at community events |
Pregnancy Help Stratford | $1,500 to expand their cloth nappy recycling service to include the recycling and reusing of all textiles. |
2022 / 2023
Stratford Community Childcare Centre | $7,030 for new composting systems |
Avon Primary School | $8,995 for the development of a garden and composting system for community use. |
Pregnancy Help Stratford Branch | $3,600 to develop reusable nappy education and recycling. |
Stratford Repair Café Group | $2,496 for the establishment of a bi-monthly Repair Café event in Stratford. |
Stratford High School | $3,120 for the installation of a recycling and composting system for unused school lunches. |
Media releases
- Community projects turning trash into treasure - September 2024
- There’s still time. Get support for waste-busting ideas - January 2024
- Waste Levy Fund opens for projects that reduce waste - November 2023
- Waste fund awards over $24,000 for sustainable projects - May 2023
- Applications open for new fund to reduce waste - February 2023