COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund: Waste minimisation and resource recovery initiatives

What’s the need  

We are looking to fund new weighbridge projects that will add value to existing waste management operations. These will be in areas that currently have underinvestment in weighbridge infrastructure.

Working with you  

We expect to work in partnership with your organisation. You will provide project management support and some level of cash co-investment. There may be some exceptions to the co-investment requirement. This will depend on the nature or circumstances of your organisation. Any exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Project scope

To approve investment in weighbridge infrastructure, your project needs to meet Weights and Measures Act requirements [Trading Standards website].  

Facility type and landfill classification  

• Class 1- municipal landfill
• Class 1 – monofill
• Class 2-5 landfills
• Transfer stations
• Community recycling centres/ resource recovery centres – where use of weighbridge will include measurement of waste to landfill

Funding  

You can apply for funding up to 100 per cent of the project cost to a maximum grant value of $100,000 per weighbridge. 

This funding cap includes a maximum contribution of up to $20,000 towards ancillary project costs.  Ancillary project costs are non-asset expenditure such as site design, preparation, traffic management and electrical work.

Your project will be ineligible if funding has been secured from other Crown sources or if you are required to have a weighbridge to meet current consent and/or contractual requirements.

Ability to deliver

You will need to specify the resources your organisation will draw on to successfully carry out a weighbridge project.  We will consider both your organisational capability and financial viability.

Consents

Your application must include:

• evidence of any current waste operation at the proposed site/facility
• details of your existing or pending consents
• any consents subsequently required.

Applications must be submitted through MfE’s online portal. Detailed information will be provided on this webpage closer to fund opening time.

Applications will be accepted from midday 1 July 2021 to midday 4 August 2021. 

Submit application

You must submit your application through the Ministry for the Environment’s (MfE’s) online portal. Detailed information of how to register/access the online portal will be on this webpage closer to the fund round opening time.

Application assessment

Applications will be assessed by an internal MfE panel in August. The panel will produce a shortlist of applications. The panel may request further information from applicants.

Application decisions 

In early September, organisations will be either invited to lodge a full project plan or will be provided feedback on why their application will not be progressed.

This webpage will be updated regularly. Or email CRRF@mfe.govt.nz for further information.

Who can apply

Ahu Whenua Trust | Charitable Trust | Co-operative company | Family Trust | Incorporated society | Limited Partnership | Territorial Authority | Other | Limited liability company | 

Eligible facility types

• Class 1- municipal landfills
• Class 1 – monofills
• Class 2-5 landfills
• Transfer stations
• Community recycling centres/resource recovery centres – where use of weighbridge will include measurement of waste to landfill

Project scope

Duration: limited to a 2-year (funded) project. 

Within Weighbridge (broad) specifications.

• Weighbridge asset/technology needs to be of a certain standard (eg, meeting Weights and Measures Act requirements and achieves verification by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment). Refer to Weighbridges [Trading Standards website
• Weighbridge asset power source options limited to either mains or solar/battery retention
• Mobile weighbridges for sharing across multiple sites will be considered.

Co-investment

• Co-investment is required (cash, not in-kind). Some exceptions may be applied at the Ministry’s discretion for applicants that do not have adequate cash reserves.
• The total available funding for each weighbridge project (subject to the co-investment requirement) is:
  • Funding up to 100 per cent of project costs to a maximum grant value of $100,000
  • Funding of ancillary project costs (non-asset expenditure) may represent a maximum of up to $20,000 of the total funding grant
  • Ancillary project costs: non-asset expenditure such as site design, preparation, traffic management, electrical work
• Exclusion of loan structures.

Beyond business as usual

Project investment is beyond current business as usual. COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund: Waste Minimisation and Resource Recovery Initiatives (CRRF: WMRRI) funding excludes repairs on existing weighbridge assets.

Other sources of funding

The project is ineligible for funding if:

• it has secured funding from other Crown entities, and/or
• the facility is required to operate a weighbridge as part of its existing consent and/or due to existing contractual obligations or conditions.

Achievement of outcomes

Application/project plan requires you to state:

• Project objective: Site prep and installation of weighbridge (milestone deliverables)
• Project outcome: Improving the efficiency of measurement and accuracy of data on waste to landfill.

Beyond business as usual

Evidence of how the proposed weighbridge is additional to business as usual both for your organisation, wider industry and region.

Ability to deliver/governance

Demonstrate the project team has, or will acquire, the required resources to deliver as outlined in the application’s Part B to ensure success.

Risk identification and mitigation

Document, rate and describe identified risks and proposed mitigations to ensure successful delivery of the project including any key dependencies.

Budget

Demonstrate alignment of the project budget to project description within the context of project scope.

Inclusion of a minimum of one weighbridge asset purchase quote/estimate dated within the past three months.

Site/facility consents status

Evidence of:

• current activity status for existing operation for the purpose of regional and district planning instruments, and copies of any relevant consents
• information regarding any consent applications in progress
• project planning will inform on consents required (eg, earthwork or building consents).