Fund snapshot
The aim of the fund is to support waste-minimisation projects that encourage community participation and education, benefit the Hamilton community, and lead to long-term waste-minimising actions and behaviour change.
Supporting projects with this aim will help reduce waste to landfill and help achieve the vision, goals and objectives of the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan.
The fund has $100,000 to distribute annually with one funding round per year. Applicants can apply for one of two options:
- Standard funding – minimum $1000 maximum $5000.
- Special projects – minimum $5000 maximum $15,000.
The fund is contestable, with each application assessed on its merits on a case-by-case basis by an Application Assessment Panel. The fund is open from 23 March - 17 April 2026.
Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include community groups, businesses, Iwi/Maaori organisations, educational institutions and other community-based organisations operating within Hamilton or whose aims and outcomes are for the benefit of the Hamilton community. Personal bank accounts cannot be used.
Fund criteria:
- focus on the reduction of waste
- focus on reuse, recycling and recovery of waste and diverted materials
- lead to measurable waste minimisation outcomes
- take place within Hamilton or be for the benefit of the Hamilton community
- use the funds accordingly within 12 months of offering applicants a grant
- be from a legal entity or fall under an umbrella legal entity
- align with the vision, goals and objectives of Hamilton City Councils Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP 2018-2024).
While new waste minimisation activities are encouraged, expansions to existing activities or scopes may also be considered.
Application criteria
The following core criteria will be used to assess all applications:
Strategic alignment
- Projects must align with the vision, goals and objectives of Hamilton City Council's Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (2024-2030).
Waste minimisation
- Projects must reduce waste to landfill and/or target priority waste streams.
Community participation and/or community benefit
- Projects should encourage community participation and education.
- Projects must result in tangible community benefit.
Effectiveness
- Projects must reduce harm to the environment.
- Projects should be designed to be ongoing and become self-supporting.
- Project proposals which seek to build on existing initiatives must show clearly how they will add extra value and further progress the initiative.
- Projects must not undermine existing initiatives or other funded proposals.
Quality
- The objectives of the project must be clear.
- The objectives must be measurable.
- The project must demonstrate the likelihood of success.
The application
1. Application process, guidelines and help
Once you're ready to apply, you'll need to register on Smartygrants first and then follow the guidelines to complete your application. The guidelines will outline everything you need to do before you apply.
Smartygrants offers plenty of support, with online guides and video tutorials available once you are logged in.
When filling in the application please make sure you:
- Answer all of the questions on the application form so we can process your application smoothly and without delay.
- Include all the requested attachments and clearly label any additional material.
- Supply a bank account in the name of the organisation and proof of financial stability through annual or audited accounts.
- Provide evidence of the costs for which you're applying for, such as quotations, product advertisements, reports, or budgets. Written documentation is required, as verbal quotes can not be accepted.
- If your organisation or business is GST registered, please exclude GST from the project cost breakdown. If you are not GST registered, we will take care of making any necessary GST adjustments to the application.
- Work through the checklist at the end of the form to make sure you have included everything needed for your application.
2. When you can expect to hear back from us
You will get a confirmation email once we have received your application.
The Voluntary Application Assessment Panel, made up of two Council staff, two community members, and one Councillor, reviews all applications.
A report of recommended applicants is then shared with Council’s senior management for final approval.
We’ll send you an email to let you know the outcome of your application.
3. Grant allocation and progress reports
If your application is successful, you’ll need to complete a grant agreement, submit a progress report after 12 months, and provide receipts for all expenses.
If your project’s outcomes or benefits won’t be clear within 12 months, we may ask you to complete a follow‑up report - we’ll work with you to decide the best timing.
The accountability report will be on Smarty Grants ready to complete at least one months prior to the due date.
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Last updated 23 March 2026