Local authorities have received a share of the Government's first $3 million quarterly payment under the new waste-minimisation scheme.
The Otago payments range from $89,642 to the Dunedin City Council to $12,572 paid to the Central Otago District Council.
The Waste Minimisation Act imposed a levy of $10 a tonne of waste on disposal facilities, such as the Dunedin council's Green Island landfill, in a bid to discourage their use.
About $12 million a year - half the money expected to be collected - will be paid to 73 local authorities for use in areas of waste-minimisation.
The other half, less administration costs, is available for waste projects and education and can be applied for through the Ministry for the Environment.
Dunedin City Council solid waste manager Ian Featherston said the money would replace ratepayer funding of such initiatives as the enviroschools programme, sustainable living courses, the waste exchange, the cloth nappy subsidy and the zero waste initiative.
The amounts paid include: Dunedin $89,642, Queenstown Lakes $17,339, Waitaki $15,275, Clutha $12,719, Central Otago $12,574, Waimate $5443, Gore $9145, Southland $21,481, Auckland $305,641 and Christchurch $263,175.
