Local authorities today get the first payment of $3 million collected through a waste levy under the Waste Minimisation Act, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.
"I am pleased to announce that $3 million from the waste levy is being distributed across 73 councils to support and encourage councils in their kerbside recycling and other waste reduction programmes," Dr Smith said.
The Act imposes a $10 per tonne levy on landfills. Half that money goes 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.
Applications for the fund close on March 1.
Projects can include education and ways of reducing waste.
The waste levy funding will be paid out quarterly and go towards councils' waste management and minimisation plans and was expected to come to about $12 million a year.
