Grants of up to £50,000 are available for local charity partnerships to create innovation in waste prevention.

The £800,000 Innovation in Waste Prevention Fund is open to applications from groups of two or more organisations, including local businesses, councils, charities and voluntary groups.

The Innovation in Waste Prevention Fund is being funded by Defra, and is managed by Wrap, an organisation that encourages recycling in homes and the workplace, which plans to apply for charitable status.

The fund aims to boost voluntary opportunities and provides the potential to create new jobs by promoting the introduction of new services and the adoption of alternative, anti-waste business approaches.

Dan Rogerson, minister for resource management, said: “Preventing waste from being produced in the first place is not only good for the environment but helps to build a stronger economy and supports our businesses too.

“This is an excellent example of the work we are supporting and I would urge everyone with innovative ideas to get involved.”

The fund will run for two years and grants will be awarded in three phases. Applications for this first phase need to be returned to Wrap by 1 September 2014.