A new grant has been unveiled today to help improve recycling rates. The new recycling grant is part of the £18 million Resource Action Fund, launched by Defra in May 2019.
A new grant has been unveiled today to help improve recycling rates. The new recycling grant is part of the £18 million Resource Action Fund, launched by Defra in May 2019. The Resources and Waste Strategy for England sets out ambitions to significantly increase municipal waste recycling in line with the adoption of the European Circular Economy Package targets of a 55% recycling rate by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035. The aim of this grant is to provide capital support to increase recycling infrastructure for non-household municipal waste.
Non-household municipal waste (NHM) is defined as that similar in profile to household waste (including packaging, paper and food waste) which is generated by sectors such as hospitality and food service, education, health, transport, retail, wholesale and offices. The national recycling rate for NHM sector waste is currently around 40%, although there are variances across sectors, company sizes and locations.
To help support new opportunities to increase NHM recycling, £1m capital funding is available to organisations that either collect or facilitate collection of this waste to:
- provide new or improved recycling services/operations that will increase the volume of NHM waste being recycled; and
- provide new infrastructure and better access to services targeting/benefiting Small and Medium Business Enterprises (SMEs).
Project proposals will need to demonstrate a level of innovation that goes beyond the current industry norm, and offer effective communication approaches to guide and support SMEs who are signing up to the new services.
For example, project proposals could include:
- Alterations to Materials Recycling Facilities (MRFs) to provide new or increased capacity for NHM waste materials
- Alterations to existing site or new bring sites allowing NHM waste
- Dedicated micro bring sites located on the likes of business parks
Peter Maddox, director at WRAP says “There is a big opportunity to increase non household municipal waste in England. Grants like this enable us to help businesses to test out innovative ways to tackle their recycling issues. I am delighted that this money is being made available and I’m looking forward to seeing what applicants will bring to the table.”
A Defra spokesperson said: “Valuable waste ending up in landfill makes no sense environmentally or economically. Currently only just over a third of business waste is recycled, so there is huge potential to recycle more.
“Through our landmark Resources and Waste Strategy we will boost recycling from all sources. That’s why we are encouraging organisations to apply for our grant to help drive up the recycling of this waste through game-changing innovations.”
The grants will be managed by WRAP and individual awards will range from £25,000 to £170,000. Further information and an application form for an outline proposal can be found at Resource Action Fund
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Notes to Editor
First established in 2000, WRAP is a not for profit organisation which works with governments, businesses and citizens to create a world in which we source and use resources sustainably.
Our impact spans the entire life-cycle of the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the products we buy, from production to consumption and beyond.