Wanaka Wastebusters has received $118,750 from the Ministry for the Environment to continue and extend its Unpackit packaging waste campaign next year.
Environment Minister Nick Smith announced more than $1 million in funding for six projects throughout New Zealand yesterday, including the Wanaka project.
The funding comprises $593,000 from the Government's Community Environment Fund (to help communities clean up freshwater) and $449,000 from the Waste Minimisation Fund (to reduce waste).
Wanaka Wastebusters staff organise the national Unpackit Awards for best and worst packaging, as well as developing and delivering information to help consumers and businesses make smart packaging choices.
Wanaka Wastebusters media spokeswoman Gina Dempster said yesterday the new funding was exciting.
Next year's Unpackit roadshow would be "bigger and better" and staff were already making plans to extend it from schools to businesses. Wastebusters would also contribute to the campaign, she said.
"We did get funding last year for the Unpackit Awards. I think this [new funding] shows how much the ministry appreciated what we did with Unpackit."
Ms Dempster said the public had had fun with this year's website campaign on best and worst packaging.
The best was the Potatopak, a home compostable container made from waste, while the worst was Sunsweet Ones, individually wrapped prunes.
Nominations for next year's awards open on Tuesday, with voting to take place next year.
Other recipients of ministry funding yesterday included Allied Concrete ($190,000 to install machinery to add recycled glass to residential grade concrete); South Westland Rubbish Removals ($140,000 to set up a glass recycling depot in Franz Josef); Landcare Trust ($135,000 for the Community Catchment Action Plan at Lake Ngaroto); Landcare Trust ($120,000 to support the development of an online community of volunteers knowledgeable about wetland restoration); Landcare Research ($38,000 to help people identify and provide information on freshwater invertebrates).
