The circular economy — an economic model that keeps materials in use as long as possible, reduces waste, and regenerates natural systems — is increasingly central to New Zealand's environmental strategy. Transitioning from a linear "take-make-dispose" model to circular flows requires innovation, investment, and behaviour change. Grants and public funding play a significant role in enabling this transition.
New Zealand has developed increasing policy emphasis on waste minimisation and circular economy:
Waste Minimisation Act 2008
The Waste Minimisation Act established the National Waste Levy (a levy on waste disposed to landfill) and created the Waste Minimisation Fund — distributing levy revenue to projects that reduce waste.
Product Stewardship
The government has expanded mandatory product stewardship — requiring industries to take responsibility for end-of-life management of certain products (tyres, refrigerants, electrical and electronic waste). Industry-led schemes (often with government co-investment) fund collection and processing.
New Zealand Waste Strategy
The current Waste Strategy sets targets for waste reduction, increased recycling, and circular economy development — creating policy impetus for funded programmes.
Waste Minimisation Fund (WMF)
The Waste Minimisation Fund — administered by the Ministry for the Environment — is the primary grant source for waste reduction and circular economy in New Zealand:
Callaghan Innovation
For circular economy innovation with an R&D component:
- R&D grants for businesses developing new materials, processes, or products enabling circularity
- Student internship grants for circular economy research in businesses
Regional councils and local authorities
Some regional councils and territorial authorities have waste minimisation grants:
- Auckland's Waste Solutions grants for community waste reduction
- Wellington City Council's Sustainability Fund
- Various regional council grants for community recycling and composting
Product stewardship funds
Industry-funded product stewardship schemes sometimes provide grants for innovation or infrastructure:
- Tyre Stewardship New Zealand
- Electronic Products Stewardship schemes
- Packaging-related initiatives
Community enterprises — repair cafes, op-shops, tool libraries, food rescue organisations, community composting — are the grassroots infrastructure of the circular economy:
Lotteries Community grants: some community circular economy initiatives have accessed Lotteries funding
Gaming trusts: community recycling and reuse organisations have accessed gaming trust grants for equipment and operations
Foundation grants: several foundations have funded circular economy social enterprises, particularly those addressing food waste (KiwiHarvest, Kaibosh)
Creative NZ: arts-based upcycling and creative reuse have occasionally accessed arts grants
Food waste reduction
Construction and demolition waste
Plastics and packaging
Textile and fashion
Electronics and appliances
Furniture and homewares
Strong circular economy grant applications:
Quantify diverted waste: how many tonnes/kilograms will be diverted from landfill? This is the primary metric for waste minimisation funders.
Demonstrate market creation: circularity works when recovered materials have markets. Show that there is (or will be) demand for recovered materials or products.
Show additionality: what would happen without this grant? Why is public investment necessary to get this off the ground?
Articulate co-benefits: circular economy projects often generate social benefits (employment, community connection) and economic benefits alongside environmental impact. Articulate all dimensions.
Address scalability: grant funders want to know whether successful pilots can grow — can this model scale, replicate, or be adopted by others?
Tahua's grants management platform supports environmental and circular economy funders — with waste reduction outcome tracking, project milestone management, co-investment coordination, and the portfolio tools that help environmental funders measure impact across their grants portfolio.