Help for community groups keen to 'go green'

If you’re thinking about becoming more environmentally sustainable Hutt City Council wants to help you make it happen.

Council is calling for local groups with ideas for ‘green’ initiatives to apply for an environmental sustainability grant.

The initiative needs to involve educating and encouraging Hutt City residents to become more environmentally sustainable in their day to day lives. This could mean reducing waste going to the landfill, conserving water, reducing energy use, or protecting our environment. 

Last year council supported 11 groups to go green with everything from large composting bins and water tanks to hitching posts and food preservation workshops.

Mayor David Ogden is challenging more community groups to get involved this year.

“We helped Transition Lower Hutt to host workshops on bottling fruit and vegetables and Rata Street School is now composting the entire school’s food scraps and lawn clippings to feed their vegetable garden.

“I was really impressed with last year’s applicants and their green ideas and I know there’s potential for the community to do more.”

Applications for funding are open until 22 October 2010 and more details can be found at www.huttcity.govt.nz/funding.

The grants are a community led initiative in council’s environmental sustainability strategy.