An investment of £165,000 from the Zero Waste Community Fund 2025/26 will enable twelve community groups in the Liverpool City Region to spearhead efforts in waste reduction, reuse, and recycling.
This funding, a partnership between Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority (MRWA) and Veolia, will fuel grassroots initiatives designed to foster sustainable habits among local residents.
Earlier this year the organisations had to bid for the funding which will give them the financial support to deliver waste-reducing behavioural change projects across the region. The successful projects encompass diverse activities like educational workshops for schools, electrical repair hubs, food waste reduction cookery classes, clothes and textile upcycling, furniture restoration, and community food growing and composting schemes.
Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of MRWA, praised the initiative, saying: “The Community Fund is instrumental in enabling local groups to become environmental leaders, ultimately contributing to a healthier region. It’s heartening to see a growing appreciation for the value of our natural resources. The inspiring and diverse ideas presented this year made for a tough selection, highlighting the dedication within our communities. We know these projects have the potential to create lasting change and embed positive habits.
“We wish them all the very best and eagerly await the results of their hard work.”
Project applications had to tackle one or more of the five priority household waste materials which have been identified by MRWA as key, namely Food, Furniture, Electricals, Plastics and Textiles. An analysis* of waste in the Liverpool City Region highlighted that a greater amount of these materials could be reused or recycled.
One project which previously received funding in 2024/25 is the youth-led initiative Feed the Need, supported by Vibe UK, who have been running food waste reduction and educational programmes for young people thanks to the Community Fund (pic below).
Helen McGorrin, Area Manager of Vibe UK, said: “We were honoured to support our young people from St Helens Youth Council to lead on this project, using the Community Fund to give young people the knowledge, tools and confidence to make informed decisions when it comes to reducing their food waste. The project has helped young people better understand the role they play and how they can support their families and the wider community to reduce food waste.
“The funding helped us to run peer led workshops, create an educational video and challenge book, and strengthened relationships in the community. We rescued and redistributed food and shared resources including shopping lists, meal planning sheets and reusable containers as physical ways to support people to make improvements by careful planning to reduce overspending/shopping and utilising leftovers. This is really embedding generational change in young people that will stay with them for many years beyond the project.”
The twelve successful 2025/26 Zero Waste Community Fund organisations have got until March 2026 to deliver their projects.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Image caption: Attached image shows participants at Vibe UK receiving their 2024/25 Zero Waste Community Fund cheque
*Statistic from Merseyside and Halton Waste Composition Analysis 2021/22
· Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority is responsible for the disposal of municipal waste on Merseyside. Established in 1986 following the abolition of Merseyside County Council, it is a statutory Authority that works with all the local authorities on Merseyside – Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. MRWA takes a lead in advocating recycling, waste reduction and safe and effective disposal of waste for Merseyside residents.
· MRWA operates (via a contract with resource management company Veolia) 16 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC’s) for householders in the Merseyside area wishing to recycle and dispose of their own waste.
· The Zero Waste LCR Community Fund 2025/26 has seen 12 community groups from Merseyside and Halton receive a funding boost to help make the region a cleaner and greener place. The financial support will see the groups help reduce household waste, encourage recycling and resource re-use, and prevent carbon emissions. Funding total is £164,546
The successful projects:
| Organisation and Project | Material focus | Project Summary |
| The County of Merseyside Guide Association Guiding towards Food Waste Zero | Food and Plastic | A collaboration between the Guiding Association and a food skills expert – training Guide and Brownie Leaders across Merseyside in practical skills like reducing food waste through improved cooking, growing food, and composting, aiming to influence positive changes at home. |
| D HUB 67 C.I.C. Full Circle Project | Food, Plastic, and Textiles | The project will establish a community garden to grow food and enhance biodiversity. This produce will then be used to showcase cooking skills in creative and healthy meals, while also demonstrating proper food storage and preservation methods. Additionally, community swap events for textiles will be organised, with any surplus materials being repurposed and repaired into useful items. |
| Earth Moves Earth Moves | Food | The project will actively involve local people through hands-on workshops and the creation of a Hügelkultur bed using organic waste. This process will be carefully documented, and accessible resources will be developed to inspire and enable local schools, community members, and environmental groups to replicate this sustainable gardening technique. |
| Faiths4Change Transforming Throwaways to Treasures | Food, Plastic, and Textiles | This project contributes to the region’s climate change strategy by facilitating practical sustainable activities, notably reuse and repair workshops tailored for young adults. A final event will be held to disseminate the project’s findings and explore potential avenues for building upon its successes. |
| Friends of Bowring Park Reclaim & Sustain Project | Food, Textiles, and Electricals | Building on the success of the previous ‘Fix-it’ pilot, this project will scale up and replicate its model across various Liverpool communities, employing diverse approaches to repair and reuse. Activities will include a range of workshops focusing on food waste prevention, bike repair, clothing reuse and repair, and electrical item repairs, alongside awareness campaigns and accessible resources. These efforts will be supported by a Fix-it Festival and a Zero Waste celebration, showcasing repair activities and offering drop-in repair services. |
| Friends of South Park Let’s Grow! Not Throw! | Food, Furniture, and Plastic | The project will foster skills development and create employment opportunities for the local community and volunteers through practical training in woodwork, cooking, upcycling, and community composting & gardening. |
| Forum Creative Enterprise Charity Waste to Taste | Food and Plastic | This initiative will empower young adults in Liverpool who have been homeless by equipping them with crucial independent living skills, including practical cooking abilities, knowledge of balanced nutrition and food management, and valuable skills in composting and growing their own food. |
| Groundwork Merseyside Mint Meals, Minus Waste | Food | This project, in partnership with South Liverpool Homes, will take a practical and community-oriented approach to improving food-related skills. Through workshops and shared resources, residents will learn about smart shopping, effective planning, optimal food storage, healthy cooking, appropriate portioning, and inventive ways to use leftovers. Community composting will also be a key element. |
| Hazelhurst Studios Runcorn Repair Cafe | Furniture, Plastic, Textiles, and Electricals | The project will establish a monthly repair café and a community PAT testing service, empowering local residents with practical repair skills through guidance from local specialists. A media campaign will raise awareness and reinforce key messages. The project will culminate in a community event showcasing its successes and facilitating future planning. |
| Squash Liverpool CIC TREASURE – Food and Textiles for Real | Food and Textiles | Empowering young adults to make informed choices about fast food and fashion, this educational program will cultivate skills in growing, cooking, managing, and preserving food. It will also teach valuable techniques for clothing repair and reuse. Learning will be brought to life through interactive training workshops, impactful large-scale community events across Liverpool City Region, and enriching visits to local community projects. |
| Syrian British Cultural Centre CIC From Waste to Creativity: Empowering Communities through Recycling and Innovation | Food, Furniture, Textiles, and Electricals | This project will champion responsible waste management throughout the Liverpool City Region, engaging schools and community centres. Key activities include an Eco Innovation Lab, a Recycle & Repair Programme, a Green Entrepreneurship Academy, and impactful events designed to foster lasting behavioural change. The project aims to significantly reduce textile waste through repair and reuse workshops, extend the lifespan of furniture and electrical appliances via refurbishment initiatives, educate communities on effective food waste reduction techniques, and promote the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives. |
| Willowbrook Hospice Willowbrook Waste to Community Uses Challenge | Furniture, Textiles, and Electricals | This initiative will offer opportunities for repairing, repurposing, and reselling items through Fix-it cafes, mending, repair, and upcycling workshops, and clothes swapping events specifically for hospice patients and their families in Liverpool. The project will also train volunteers in repair skills and host engaging competitions, culminating in a public Re-Fashion show. |