The Council is rewarding Aucklanders who have innovative ideas about how to reduce household food waste with grants up to $1000.
The funding scheme Love Food Hate Waste has $40,000 in total to help get the best ideas off the ground. Each idea will receive a maximum of $1000.
Both individuals and groups can submit ideas.
Ian Stupple, waste solutions general manager at the Council, assures potential applicants no funding application was too small.
"We're looking forward to seeing a raft of clever ideas on ways to encourage food waste prevention and I would strongly encourage anyone with an interest to apply," he says.
Examples of the kinds of events the Council is looking for:
• A community cook-off
• A preserves-making workshop
• Food-saving demonstrations by a local chef or home cook
• A movie screening or discussion group
• Running a Love Food Hate Waste stand at a community event
• Love Food Hate Waste projects in schools
• Food waste reduction initiatives in businesses
• Cooking demonstrations at a community garden
Applicants can discuss their ideas with the Council's Wastewise advisers by emailing: wastewise@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Through the Waste Minimisation Innovation Fund the Council also welcomes waste minimisation ideas not limited to food. Through this fund groups can apply for a grant of up to $50,000.
Applications for both funds close on September 30 2016 at 8pm.
About Food Waste
• Food waste makes up about 40 per cent of the average household's weekly landfill rubbish
• This waste costs the average household $563 a year
• Each year Kiwis spend $872 million on food that gets thrown away uneaten