The purpose of the scheme
Wexford County Council may pay a Local waste prevention / local circular economy grant up to a maximum of €500 to voluntary or community groups or schools for waste prevention / reuse / repair / upcycling projects in their local community.
This grant is funded by the Environment Section as part of its commitments under the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy 2024‐2030 (Ref: National Target 3A 3B 4A 4B. Core Policies CP5 CP7).
Wexford County Council invites applications from voluntary community groups, youth groups, schools or other voluntary community development organisations, based in County Wexford, who are interested in receiving funding for local waste prevention / local circular economy initiatives.This scheme aims to support groups to implement waste prevention, re‐use and repair activities in their local community and to encourage partnership between local schools, social enterprises, charities, community and voluntary groups.
A circular economy is based on long-life products that can be renewed, reused, repaired, upgraded and refurbished to preserve natural resources, protect habitats and reduce pollution. It is about finding ways to keep items in use longer and not generating as much waste in the first place. It’s about rethinking the way we do things – redesigning the items we use – changing attitudes and changing behaviours about what we buy and what we throw away.
The main focus for projects this year should be on projects to promote a circular economy e.g. repairing, reusing, building skills and knowledge in the community to facilitate repair and reuse, changing attitudes and behaviours to how we use items, reduce use of single use items (encourage use of reusable items). Applications for projects under these themes will be prioritised for funding.
Examples of projects are as follows: running a repair event(s) such as a repair café, how to repair a puncture, bicycle maintenance, basic sewing skills workshop (button repair, sew a hem, repair a tear, etc.), DIY skills, run a swap event, establish a sharing library/shed within a community (tool library), etc.
Terms & Conditions:
1. All projects should seek to encourage waste prevention and promote the circular economy https://www.mywaste.ie/the-circular-economy/
2.Applications will only be accepted through the online application form and all correspondence will be by e-mail using the e-mail address submitted on the application form. Please ensure your e-mail address is entered correctly.
3. Applicants should be aware that the scheme may be oversubscribed, in such circumstances all applications fulfilling the conditions may not be successful or may be for a lesser grant amount. Do not spend monies prior to approval for grant.
4. Expenditure under this grant must be directly and fully related to waste prevention activities and cannot be used for refreshments, prizes, entertainment, or other unrelated expenditure. Please give a complete list of expenditure with your application
5. Applicants must show how they will deliver the waste prevention / circular project by submitting a project schedule including a description of a method to quantifying waste prevented.
6. Applicants must be able to demonstrate the positive social &/or environmental impacts and benefits of their waste prevention project.
7. Applicants must describe how they will raise awareness of their waste prevention project within their community.
8. Applicants must describe how their project prevented waste and if approved have all expenditure complete, submit a completion report by 4pm, Thursday 26th September 2025.
9. Closing date for receipt of applications is 4pm, Thursday 29th May 2025.
Payment of grants:
1. The applicant will be informed if their application has been successful or not. If successful the approved grant shall be paid to the name of the organisation specified on the Grant Application form. Please ensure that this name is the same as the name on the Organisation’s bank account.
2. The full grant will only be paid once the project is complete and the group have submitted the completion report. The completion report and receipts must be submitted before 4pm, Friday 26th September 2025 and must quantify the amount of waste prevented.
3. Please be advised that any grant that remains unclaimed before 4pm, Friday 26th September 2025 will be cancelled.
Click Below to accept Terms and Conditions
Assessment Criteria
Projects will be assessed on the following;
1. All projects should seek to encourage waste prevention and promote the circular economy https://www.mywaste.ie/the-circular-economy/
2. Expenditure under this grant must be directly and fully related to waste prevention/circular economy activities and cannot be used for refreshments, prizes, entertainment, or other unrelated expenditure. Please give a complete list of expenditure with your application.
3. Projects should be to a high standard and should aim at establishing or replicating best practice in relation to waste prevention / circular activities.
4. Applications must describe method of quantifying waste prevented and demonstrate the positive social and/or environmental impacts and benefits of their waste prevention/ circular economy project.
5. Applicants must describe how they will raise awareness of their project within their community. All publications, print material or virtual events must reference funding through this grant if successful in obtaining funding.
6. Applications will be scored against value for money.
7. Please note that only applications meeting the above criteria and conditions will be considered for grant funding.
How to apply
Applications will open shortly for 2025 Scheme