GMWDA Funds Green Community Innovation
6 October 2011
Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) has awarded £55,000 to seven community groups in Greater Manchester for their innovative waste and recycling projects, which will have a positive effect on the environment and local communities
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The community organisations and charities selected all submitted proposals to deliver a more sustainable use of valuable resources too often squandered aswaste.
The community waste fund projects range from furniture re-use, community recycling, IT re-use, community up-cycling, tenant-led youth environmental champions to community waste art projects. The projects complement Greater Manchester's ambition of achieving zero waste to landfill.
The initiatives offer young people the opportunity to develop innovative ideas for end-of-use products and receive training to improve their future job prospects; as well as supporting adults with mental health illnesses to become more aware of and involved in waste prevention and recycling; and will also give families on a low or no budget the chance to make their house a home.
Councillor Swannick, Chair of GMWDA commented on the fund: "I am extremely pleased with the chosen projects, which all have a positive impact on the environment and local communities in Greater Manchester. The applications demonstrated that there is valuable work already being delivered by the communitysector and we must keep supporting it, in order for it to develop its activity over the coming years."
John Hastings from Recycle IT, who has received funding said: "We are delighted to have received funding from GMWDA. We genuinely help bridge the digital divide and facilitate low cost PC packages to people and organisations who can't afford high street prices. This fund will really help us develop our re-use projects and support us to continue to look at new and inspirational ways to treat the broken down materials to aid further re-use or up-cycling."
This round of funding follows the success of last year's community waste fund and demonstrates GMWDA's continued commitment to supporting the community waste sector and the aim of zero waste to landfill.
If you are a community group or charity and think that this community waste fund could do wonders for your project/scheme, then look out for the next round in December 2011.
Darrel Moore
