Community Foundation Ireland, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), established this fund to reduce consumption and waste in the areas of food waste, plastic and packaging, clothing/textiles and electrical items in communities throughout the country, by supporting the experience and enthusiasm of local community groups.

Community groups are invited to apply for this fund to create Sustainable Communities through the Circular Economy and Sustainable Consumption and Waste.

Sustainable communities are ones that are economically thriving; environmentally healthy; and socially resilient. The circular economy aims to reduce waste at all stages of the economic cycle and ensure materials are used as efficiently as possible.

Funding will be offered in three strands,

• Strand 1: Up to €3,000 to develop a Community Action Plan to reduce consumption & waste
• Strand 2: Up to €5,000 to trial new & innovative approaches to reduce consumption & waste
• Strand 3: Up to €10,000 to grow current small scale initiatives to reduce consumption & waste