Funding projects to reduce household waste
Published
Tuesday 4 August, 2026
Updated
Tuesday 4 August, 2026
Community groups can get up to £5,000 for new projects that cut household waste, protect the environment, and help residents save money.
The Kent Community Waste Prevention Fund, supported by Swale Borough Council, Kent County Council and the Kent Resource Partnership (KRP), is available for projects that reduce waste and promote sustainability across Kent.
The £50,000 pot is designed to support new community-led projects that result in less waste going to landfill or incineration and that promote reuse, repair and prevention activities, helping give items a second life.
The funding is open to Swale’s community groups, residents' associations, charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), social enterprises and parish and town councils.
The KRP is looking for innovative projects that address at least one of the five key priority household waste materials:
- Food - food waste can be prevented by providing people with training, skills, and knowledge to improve their food shopping and storage habits, or food composting and refill projects.
- Furniture - unwanted furniture reuse, repair, repurposing or upcycling. These activities can provide opportunities to develop new skills, reduce waste, and support the community.
- Plastics - projects may reduce dependence on disposal and single use plastics, conserve resources and protect the environment from plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Textiles - textiles are sometimes thrown away unnecessarily when they are often suitable for repair and reuse. Sewing skills can help with the reuse of clothing and other textiles.
- Waste Electrical, Electronic Equipment (WEEE) - many of the electrical items that are thrown away can be recycled, repaired or updated, which helps to save natural resources and reduces damage to the environment.
Individuals from successful groups can also attend fully funded ISEP environmental sustainability courses, delivered by the Low Carbon Kent Training Centre.
Find out more and apply by going to the Kent Community Waste Prevention Fund webpage.
Dolley Wooster, chair of Swale Borough Council’s environmental services and climate change committee, said:
“All of the councils across Kent have come together to create this new fund so that we can enable our communities to drive positive change around consumption and waste.
“We are looking for innovative projects in Swale that will help reduce the amount of household waste being produced – things like repairing old electronics, upcycling furniture to give it a second life, or helping people buy only the groceries they need in order to reduce their food waste, while also saving money.
“We can’t wait to see our amazing non-profit and community groups across Swale taking this opportunity to help change habits, reduce our waste production and, ultimately, help save our planet.”
