Get Funding to Help Reduce Waste

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) will begin accepting applications for the 2023 Waste Reduction Initiatives Program (WRIP).

Launched in 2015, WRIP was introduced to support waste reduction and recycling priorities identified in the SCRD’s Solid Waste Management Plan.

The program has a total of $7,500 available for financial assistance to Sunshine Coast based community groups and associations, non-profit societies, registered charitable organizations, school groups from school districts 46 and 93. for projects that will reduce waste in the region. Project applications must include a plan for measuring and reporting the amount of waste diverted from the landfill.

Project categories considered for the program include:

• Community reuse and repair
• Composting
• Construction and demolition waste reduction, reuse and recycling
• Food waste reduction
• Green waste reduction
• Recycling initiatives

Applications open September 1, 2023 and all applications must be received by midnight on October 20, 2023.

Projects must be completed, including a final report, by June 30, 2024. Interim reporting, project guidelines and restrictions can be found at https://letstalk.scrd.ca/wrip. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the SCRD in advance of submitting their application to ensure that their project is eligible for funding.

Successful past projects include:

• Sunshine Coast Alternative School repurposed waste into art projects. Students learned about waste as a potential resource and community members generously donated items that would have ended up in the landfill.
• Roberts Creek Community Hall no longer needs to use one time use items like plastic forks or cups with the purchase of dishware for use during rental or events at the hall.
• Lunch waste was reduced at Langdale Elementary School with the purchase of reusable dishware for serving hot lunches.
• Kinnickinnick and Gibsons Elementary Schools tackled reducing paper towels going to the landfill by improving diversion to composting paper towels.
• Chatelech Secondary is reducing waste by moving away from one-time plastic markets by opting for refillable versions.

If you have questions about the Waste Reduction Initiatives Program, or are interested in submitting an application, please visit https://letstalk.scrd.ca/wrip email infrastructure@scrd.ca or call 604-885-6806.