Got a clever idea to cut waste in Palmerston North?

Published on 18 November 2025

If you’ve got a bright idea to reduce, reuse, or recycle, like the Palmerston North Repair Café or another project that helps cut waste, this is your chance to make it happen.

Palmerston North City Council’s Resource Recovery Fund is now open, with $40,000 available to help local groups and small businesses bring their ideas to life. Grants range from $2,500 to $15,000, and applications will be assessed as soon as they’re received. 

Resource Recovery Operations Manager, Chris Evans, says the fund is all about supporting practical, community-led projects that make a difference.

“If you’re working on an initiative that tackles waste, whether it’s an education programme, a community event, a pilot project, or even some research, we’d love to hear from you.

“Your project just needs to be based in Palmerston North and support our Waste Management and Minimisation Plan.” 

Previous grant recipients have made a real impact. Environment Network Manawatū introduced the Repair Café concept to the city, Mason Brothers Honey found ways to reuse plastic honeycombs, and Precycle NZ has run great projects like its most recent one, piloting a dishwashing truck at community events.

Mr Evans says the fund is about empowering locals to take action.

“We’re aiming to divert 50% more waste from landfill by 2030, and your project could help us get there.”

The funding comes from the Ministry for the Environment as part of its annual backing for resource recovery services across New Zealand. The fund will stay open until all the money is allocated, or until 30 June 2026 (whichever comes first).

Mr Evans encourages everyone to think creatively.

“We’ve seen some amazing projects around the country thanks to similar funds, like Kai Ika in Whangārei, which recovers unwanted fish parts to feed local communities, or a Queenstown initiative turning recycled bottle tops into frisbees. Even the Dripping Bowl Café in Wānaka set up a glass bottle return scheme to cut down single-use packaging.”

So, if you’ve got a clever idea to reduce waste in Palmerston North, now’s your chance to make it happen.

Resource Recovery Fund