UK’s £2.3m carrot to boost biogas and mixed plastic recycling
The scheme, run by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), is open to firms of any size in the West Midlands area of England. Under the proposals, businesses can compete for grants available through the large-scale capital programme. The government-sponsored body is delivering the project on behalf of Advantage West Midlands (AWM) – a group set up as part of a wider programme to boost recycling in the region.
Forty-five per cent of capital costs
Depending on where they are based and the size of their business, recyclers could receive up to 45 per cent of the total capital costs of the scheme. To qualify for consideration, firms must focus on the diversion of mixed plastics or food waste by an ABPR (Animal By-Products Regulations) compliant process. The most current common examples of such processes are anaerobic digestion or in-vessel composting.
Julia Turner, WRAP’s AWM programme manager, said: “The large-scale grants scheme is open to recycling and reprocessing companies of any size – from start-up businesses to major existing operations - for projects in the West Midlands. The size of grant a business can receive will depend on the type of organisation, where it is based, and how much value for money their project represents in respect of the tonnages of waste it will divert.”
Tim Baldwin, Sustainable Development Team Leader at Advantage West Midlands, said: “Since its launch in February, the WRAP AWM Programme has helped many recycling companies to develop their operations, and many more are due to receive assistance in the coming months. The large scale grants scheme will give further help to recyclers in the West Midlands, and assist the industry to increase productivity and attract new investment into the region.”
Roadshow
Companies wishing to apply should examine the scope and guidance documents available via the following link. The deadline for receipt of grant applications is 28 October, 2009.
The WRAP AWM programme will be holding four events to highlight the scope of the initiative, the type of programmes it will support and how to apply. The sessions will be held on: 19 August in Longbridge; 20 August in Malvern; 2 September in Stoke-on-Trent, and 7 September in Coventry.
