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Posts Tagged ‘ministry for the environment’
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 by Admin
 Source: Flickr speckled_beckle's photostream Yesterday, most of the 164 applications for funding for waste project(s) from the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Minimisation Fund would have received a letter telling them their application has been turned down. Congratulations to the 29 who did make it through to the next stage – we are interested to see what these projects are. If this was you and your project is based in Canterbury have you thought about approaching the Sustainable Initiatives Fund for assistance?
The purpose of the Waste Minimisation Fund is not too dissimilar to the objectives of the Sustainable Initiatives Fund Trust. The WMF was developed to boost New Zealand’s performance in waste minimisation through educational, promotional, technological or infrastructure projects. The objectives of the Sustainable Initiatitives Fund Trust are about reducing or avoiding waste that goes specifically to Canterbury’s landfills through new technology/process or recovering new waste streams or by developing new products or technologies out of recovered materials. Other sub-objectives include creating useful sustainable educational applications from the products or technologies that are developed and/or creating sustainable energy products out of waste and/or creating sustainable job opportunties and contributing positively to Canterbury’s economy. The Sustainable Initiatives Fund Trust is apart of a new generation of social lenders with the primary motivation of reducing negative environmental impacts – decreasing waste to landfill.
We have a number of projects on the go at the moment that are a mix of grants, loans and equity investments and cover a range of waste streams and issues. You can check out more of our past projects here.
We had a board meeting yesterday and again the board reiterated that projects need to show their reduction in environmental impact first and foremost. We are super keen to see the waste reduction numbers for the waste stream your project deals with.
If you have an idea that requires financial assistance we may be able to help. Call myself (Olivia Day, General Manager) to discuss if you are eligible and if we can help. Our number is 03 3655655.
Tags: financial assistance, funding, landfill, ministry for the environment, SIFT, sustainable, waste, Waste Minimisation fund
Posted in SIFT, Waste Management, social lending | No Comments »
Thursday, April 15th, 2010 by Admin
 Light at the end of the tunnel Hidcote Manor Garden Yesterday the Ministry for the Environment announced that it was into the first stage of looking at all the eligible applications to its Waste Minimisation Fund. All 164 of them. That means some might have missed out as they were not eligible.
If that is you or someone you know you might be eligible for financial assitance from us, the Sustainable Initiatives Fund Trust. Check how to apply here.
With 164 applications requesting $55 million from a total of only $6 million there will be many who do not receive funding for what are possibly worthy projects. If you have a project that is focussed on Canterbury feel free to call or email us to discuss whether or not your project might be eligible for funding from us.
Photo source: AntonyChammond Flickr
Tags: funding, ministry for the environment, Sustainable Initiatives Fund Trust, Waste Minimisation fund
Posted in News on Sustainability, Waste Management, social lending | No Comments »
Monday, April 12th, 2010 by Admin
 Picture window from spmaxi on Flickr 5% or 11,579 tonnes of waste that went to Kate Valley landfill the year to June 2009 was a metal. Types of metals that end up in landfill are broken up into two types 1) Ferrous (steel based metal products) and 2) Non-Ferrous (Aluminium, Copper and Lead based products). For the Christchurch figures we work from the amount of metal that was sent to Kate Valley landfill in the year to June 2009 increased 52% and nationwide metal represents 4.5% (4% Ferrous and 0.5% non Ferrous).
Interestingly, the Scrap Metal Association stated that for 2006 between 495,000 and 550,000 tonnes of scrap metal was diverted from landfill in New Zealand.
Types of waste table and Scrap Metal Industry figure sourced from MfE here.
**Source – Christchurch City Council, based on % breakdowns of waste sent to landfill as sourced from the Christchurch City Council’s 2008 solid waste survey conducted between July and December 2008. The figures are indicative only.
Tags: diverting waste from landfill, environment, ferrous, landfill, metal, ministry for the environment, non-ferrous, Scrap Metal Association, waste, Waste Management
Posted in Waste Management | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 by Admin
 Source: Flickr Trippykel From the Ministry for the Environment site: approx 600,000 units of whiteware are sold each year, over half are imported into New Zealand. MfE estimates that whiteware could represent between 48,000 and 56,000 tonnes of waste per year (out of the estimated 80,000 tonnes of e-waste). Some is sold by second hand stores, some is recovered, crushed and parts recycled and others go straight to landfill leaching hazardous substances such as lead, cadmium, brominated flame retardants and CFCs (in pre 1995 refrigerators). The MfE states that most whiteware is not ending up in landfill but being recycled (especially steel components) and that there are two Product Stewardship Schemes currently in operation by Fisher and Paykel and Electrolux.
More information on whiteware and a Product Stewardship Programme here.
Scoop article on the most energy efficient refrigerator from Electrolux here with top 10 tips on buying an energy efficient fridge.
Practical Action: When looking to buy a new piece of whiteware ensure it is the most energy efficient one you can buy (check for the Energy Star labelling – the most energy efficient fridges and freezers will have a blue energy star label) and check with the dealer you buy from that they can take your old one and that it will be recycled.
Tags: Electrolux, energy efficiency, Fisher and Paykel, landfill, ministry for the environment, recycling, waste, whiteware
Posted in Waste Management | No Comments »
Thursday, January 28th, 2010 by Admin
Recently, the government announced that the city and district councils around the country (73 in all) will receive the first payment from the Waste Minimisation Fund of $3 million dollars. The Waste Minimisation Fund is made up of the levies taken from landfills from around the country.
“The Waste Minimisation Act discourages waste disposal by imposing a levy of $10 per tonne of waste on disposal facilities such as landfills. Half of the money collected is allocated to councils on a population basis to spend on minimising waste in their area and the remaining levy money, minus administration costs, is made available for waste projects and education through the Waste Minimisation Fund.” said Environment Minister Hon. Dr. Nick Smith.
Here is how much each council will get in Canterbury:
- Christchurch City Council $263,175
- Timaru District Council $32,378
- Waimakariri District Council $32,353
- Selwyn District Council $25,428
- Ashburton District Council $20,674
- Hurunui District Council $7,913
- Kaikoura District Council $2,735
That’s a total of $384,656. Even though this is an excellent use of the levy from landfills the question is – will this money be enough to fund priority waste minimisation projects across Canterbury councils? Will it be enough to make a real and lasting difference to our waste?
More information here and here.
 The Kate Valley Landfill site looking South-East
Tags: funding, landfill, levy, mfe, ministry for the environment, Nick Smith, reduce, waste, Waste Minimisation Act
Posted in News on Sustainability, Waste Management | No Comments »
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