Community groups and charities across York and North Yorkshire are being urged to apply for grants to fund projects that will help prevent reusable goods ending up in landfill.
The York and North Yorkshire Waste Partnership’s Community Reuse Fund provides support to existing community reuse projects or to new projects that will prevent waste by reusing things. Examples might include projects that repair, refurbish and reuse items like furniture redesign or refashion reusable clothing or other household items or raise awareness of existing projects so that more people are encouraged to reuse materials rather than throw them away.
Projects funded so far have been diverse and include the collection and refurbishment of bikes from North Yorkshire Household Waste Recycling Centres; a pilot project to collect, test and sell household electrical goods; workshops to teach crafts to create new and useful items from reused/recycled materials, give and take days and a scheme selling nearly-new baby and nursery equipment.
The maximum grant available is £5,000 and applicants will be expected to raise at least 25 per cent match funding in cash towards project costs.
Councillor Chris Metcalfe, the County Council’s Executive Member for waste management and Chairman of the York and North Yorkshire Waste Partnership said:
Working with the community sector in a bid to increase reuse is a priority for the York and North Yorkshire Waste Partnership.
Reuse extends the life of everyday goods; it cuts our carbon footprint, prevents unnecessary waste going to landfill and benefits our local community. We look forward to hearing from community groups and charities, with new and innovative ideas for increasing reuse across York and North Yorkshire
The application deadline for the fund is 03 October 2011. Organisations interested in applying for a grant from the Community Reuse Fund can download guidance and application forms from the ‘community waste sector’ pages of www.letstalklessrubbish.com or contact the waste management team on 01609 532512.
Anyone wishing to discuss a project idea should contact Helen Mellor, waste prevention officer on 01609 532045.
