Thousands available for eco-projects
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NEIGHBOURHOOD groups in Halton have been invited to bid for a slice of £115,000 funding pot up for grabs to make the borough a cleaner greener place.
Grants are being made available for voluntary, school, faith, not-forprofit and other organisations that can reduce household waste, encourage recycling and re-use and prevent carbon emissions.
Winning bids must also produce wider benefits for the environment, health and education and this year they need to tackle one or more of the Merseyside Recycling And Waste Authority’s (MRWA) four priority household materials, namely food, plastics, textiles and furniture.
An MRWA spokesman said an analysis of the Liverpool City Region’s (LCR) habits showed that a greater amount of these materials could be reused or recycled.
Projects can include other waste material such as paper, card and metal.
The cash is coming from the Merseyside Recycling And Waste Authority ( MRWA) and Veolia Community Fund 2018-19, which has been running every year since 2006.
Grants of up to £25,000 are available for schemes that operate across all six districts in the Liverpool City Region, and £8,000 for projects which are focused on one local authority.
A MRWA spokesman said the 2016-17 round funded 10 projects, 23 full time equivalent jobs, participation by 136 volunteers, engaged 25,970 residents, diverted 1,345 tonnes of waste material diverted from landfill and negated £134,500 of landfill costs.
Previous grants have driven projects that created a sensory learning garden from re-used materials in St Helens, developed a shop to sell used clothes in Wirral, repaired and refurbished furniture for redistribution in Halton, provided cookery skills across the LCR.
Cllr Graham Morgan, MRWA chairman, said: “We’ve made this money available for new and existing projects which can have an impact on their local community and make Merseyside and Halton a cleaner and greener place for us all to live and work.
“Giving groups the opportunity to get involved in looking after their environment can only bring benefits to all and can help us appreciate items as valuable resources rather than something which otherwise might be just thrown away.”
Interested groups should complete and submit an Expression of Interest with MRWA.
Shortlisted applicants will also complete a more detailed entry.
Projects will have 10 months to complete their schemes and will be expected to start by June.
For more details visit www.merseysidewda.gov. uk –– Plus –– Deposits