New Community Fund launched for community-led initiatives to cut waste and promote sustainability

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  • Recycle for Greater Manchester Community Fund opens for applications from 1st April
  • Up to £220,000 is available this year for projects which promote the sustainable use of household waste and generate wider social benefits for the communities of Greater Manchester
  • Applications are welcomed from community, voluntary and faith groups, schools, colleges, universities, and other not for profit organisations
  • The fund provided by SUEZ is supported through profits from the new reuse shops located at three household waste recycling centres

LOCAL groups and voluntary organisations will be able to apply for funding to help cut waste and promote sustainability thanks to a new community fund.

The Recycle for Greater Manchester (R4GM) Community Fund is a joint Recycle for Greater Manchester (R4GM) and SUEZ initiative to support Greater Manchester community and voluntary sector groups to deliver projects that help to reduce household waste in Greater Manchester.

The £220,000 Community Fund will be divided between two different award categories. A total of £180,000 is available for projects that will benefit individual council areas within Greater Manchester, with a maximum of £10,000 per project for schemes in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, or Trafford (this excludes Wigan as they operate separate waste disposal arrangements).

A Greater Manchester level award will be open to projects that cover more than one council area or all nine councils (excluding Wigan). A total of £40,000 of funding is on offer with a maximum of £20,000 available per project.

Any charity, community, voluntary and faith groups, schools, colleges, universities or not for profit organisations can apply online for funding this year from 1st April to 31st May. A wide variety of projects are welcomed. Examples of projects the fund can be used for include running a clothes or furniture repair service, a community composting project or a school initiative to educate children about how to recycle.

The fund has been set up through a joint initiative with SUEZ, the contractor appointed by GMCA to operate the waste and resources contracts. As part of the contract, SUEZ made more than 50 social value commitments with a view to transitioning to a more circular economy where nearly all waste materials are given a second life.

SUEZ operates the 20 household waste recycling centres across Greater Manchester. This spring, sites at Woodhouse Lane in Trafford, Boysnope Wharf in Salford, and Arkwright Street in Oldham will be home to new ‘Renew’ shops. The shops will sell pre-loved household items donated at the household waste recycling centres such as furniture, bric-a-brac, games and toys etc. All profits from the shops will be given to good causes across Greater Manchester, with at least £220,000 each year given to the community fund to ensure its sustainability. To apply for the fund, download an application form from the Recycle for Greater Manchester website. https://recycleforgreatermanchester.com

Cllr Andrew Western, GMCA Lead for the Green City-Region, said: “Greater Manchester has a rich history of innovation so I’m confident that this fund will generate some great ideas to cut waste and promote sustainability. We know that the important work of some community-led projects may have been impacted by the COVID pandemic, and this fund could help support that work to continue for the benefit of our communities.

“Reducing waste and increasing recycling rates is key to tackling climate change. Recycling saves carbon emissions and reduces the energy needed to manufacture new products. Funding community-led projects can not only support green jobs in the city region but also help contribute to Greater Manchester’s ambitions to be a leading green city-region.”

The Community Fund is part of the Greater Manchester Environment Fund (GMEF) which has been established to provide more sustained investment in projects which contribute to creating a cleaner, carbon neutral Greater Manchester and to attract private investment. The environment fund, managed by Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) aims to target funding to projects which improve nature, waterways and green spaces. For more information, please visit the website: www.gmenvfund.org

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