Environmental projects set to benefit from £1m funding through new landfill community scheme

The scheme is a new funding programme managed by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA). 
A total of 27 projects across Wales will receive Grant Awards in the first round of funding raised by the scheme. 
The Welsh Government established the scheme to support local community and environmental projects in areas affected by disposals to landfill. It is funded by the new Welsh Landfill Disposals Tax (LDT) which replaced UK Landfill Tax in April 2018.  
LDT is a tax on the disposal of waste to landfill and is charged by weight.
It is the first time that money raised from the Landfill Disposals Tax has been used to support a bespoke Welsh funding scheme. 
Successful projects focusing on the environment, wildlife, reuse, biodiversity and waste management will receive funding of up to £50,000 each.    
Projects that will benefit include:

• Pembrokeshire Remakery will see £49,900 support a community project aiming to re-educate the community in repair and mend and contributing to reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill.
• Betws Family Centre in Carmarthenshire will see more than £8,000 go towards a project to enhance an outdoor space so parents and children can gain skills in gardening, growing their own food and be more physically active.
• Ysgol Y Lawnt in Caerphilly will receive £10,600 to support a project to transform the school grounds from overgrown and unused scrubby woodland to a space used for education and outdoor activities to improve the well-being of the pupils and biodiversity.
• Menter Mon in Anglesey will see £49,900 to support a project that seeks to respond to the threat the American Mink poses to biodiversity on Anglesey. Without intervention, this non-native predator could lead to the extinction of water voles and wading birds on the island. 
• The Vincent Wildlife Trust in North Wales will see £49,900 go towards a project to engage with local communities and train new volunteers to ensure the recovering population of native pine martens survives in the long-term.

Applications for a second round of funding have recently closed. However, two rounds of funding will take place in each year the scheme operates. The second round of funding included a call for a nationally significant project costing between £50,000-£250,000.
Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, praised the funding and said it would have a number of wider environmental benefits: 

“I’m delighted the establishment of Landfill Disposals Tax has led to 27 projects benefitting from more than £1million through our new Landfill Disposals Tax Community Scheme. 
“These projects will have far reaching benefits to communities, the environment and wildlife that will continue for generations to come.”

Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans, said: 

“With the challenges of Brexit it is more important than ever that we utilise every opportunity we have to award funding to viable projects that will benefit the wider population.

“I’d like to wish the best of luck to everyone applying for the next round.”

Ruth Marks, WCVA’s Chief Executive, said:

“The successful grant applicants represent a really exciting range of projects from across Wales. From taking action to improve local community facilities, enhancing the natural environment and promoting waste minimisation, these projects will have a great impact in Wales.“The first round generated a great deal of interest and WCVA is pleased to be working with Welsh Government and our County Voluntary Council partners to deliver this scheme.”