The fund, described as the UK’s largest community-based waste-reduction initiative, offers grants ranging from microgrants of a few hundred pounds to £100,000 for large-scale projects. Applications for the first round of 2026-27 funding opened on 5 December and will remain open until 16 February 2026.
“Since 2017, NLWA has awarded nearly £1 million in funding to some really deserving recipients – and with this huge expansion we’re able to offer the same again in half the time,” said NLWA Chair Councillor Clyde Loakes.
The four-year funding commitment represents an expansion on previous annual allocations, with the authority stating that the fund’s budget has grown every year since its inception. In January 2025, NLWA awarded £200,000 to waste reduction initiatives including an electrical repair voucher scheme and food waste prevention programme.
Community engagement and waste reduction
The fund targets community groups operating across NLWA’s seven constituent boroughs: Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest. Previous recipients have included projects ranging from low-waste cooking workshops and textile repair cafés to woodworking classes and an electric repair voucher scheme piloted in 2025.
Loakes added: “Last year we received 62 applications for our small and medium grants funding pot, so we’re really excited to see what incredible waste reduction programmes will be in store from next year.”
The Go Green Eco Urban Collective, a social justice and sustainability group based in Haringey, used NLCF funding to host workshops and an eco festival. The group commented: “NLWA listened to what we do and how we reach underrepresented groups, truly meeting people where they are at. We’re grateful that NLWA believed in our mission and gave us the opportunity to deliver the project.”
London Cycling Club, which runs bicycle upcycling programmes, said the fund gave it ‘the support to turn our bike recycling and donation project into reality, making a huge difference for the families who needed it most and creating lasting positive impact across our community.’
The fund has been redesigned following workshops with local residents aimed at making the application process more accessible. Groups can apply online and contact NLWA’s Waste Prevention team for support.
The funding announcement forms part of NLWA’s broader Waste Prevention Plan, which aims to preserve resources and support behaviour change through community engagement. The authority reports that since the fund’s launch in 2017, nearly £1 million has been awarded to community organisations.
“The groups we support through the NLCF aren’t just helping to prevent waste – they’re a vital part of our local communities, providing local residents with opportunities for friendship and social connection,” Loakes said. “It’s fantastic to be able to support that while also providing environmental benefits for all north Londoners.”
