WRAP expands recycling support and funding

The government-backed Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) this week unveiled several new support schemes and funding designed to bolster regional recycling capacity.

The organisation said that it had expanded its business development service across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to allow small and medium-sized recycling businesses to call upon greater levels of free support and advice from the agency.

"Equipping the UK’s recycling businesses with the skills they need to become sustainable businesses is critical to developing our excellent domestic recycling industry, in the face of many global challenges," said Marcus Gover, director of market development at WRAP, adding that the expanded teams would allow smaller businesses in particular to access local business advisors.

The move came as the Scottish government invited bids from recyclers for £5m in fresh funding designed to increase plastic recycling capacity.

Richard Lochhead, cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment, said that the new Mixed Plastics Capital Grant Programme would not only help cut the amount of waste being sent to landfill, but also help create new manufacturing jobs across the country.

"The potential spin-offs are exciting," he said. "If we sort and recycle the plastics here, we can provide the raw materials for a new generation of manufacturing businesses and create jobs at the same time. Creating opportunities close to home makes sense both for the environment and the economy."

WRAP Scotland director Iain Gulland said that enhancing domestic recycling capacity would also help limit the practice of sending material to be recycled in China.

"At the moment, only 15,000 tonnes of plastic used by householders is collected for recycling in Scotland, with the majority of that being sent to Asia for processing," he said. "This funding package will help develop plastics processing and recycling facilities, transforming Scotland's approach to managing plastic waste."

In related news, WRAP also announced that it was offering nearly £200,000 in grants to recycling businesses in the West Midlands investing in expanding capacity. Under the scheme, businesses can receive up to 50 per cent funding towards capital costs to collect, recycle or reprocess commercial and industrial waste from the region.