Northwest waste and recycling gets cash boost

This gives the greenlight to the second phase of a project that is rolling out a range of activities to promote sustainable production and consumption among businesses in the region.

It is hoped that the funding will establish the Northwest as a centre of excellence for recycling and waste technology through the development of a programme that supports and co-ordinates regional activity in this highly competitive sector.

One of the key aims of the project will be to stimulate research and development into new methods of waste management and recycling. It will also seek to develop markets for recycled materials by supporting and promoting manufacturers and end-users of recycled-content products.

The funding is being made available via the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), to the tune of £3.8 million, matched by £2.7 million from the European Regional Development Fund and £600,000 from local authorities in the region.

The key driving force behind the cash injection is to encourage businesses to consume and produce more sustainably.

“Sustainable consumption and production is one of the biggest challenges facing businesses today, particularly throughout this difficult economic period,” said Steven Broomhead, chief executive at the NWDA.

“The consumption of resources is higher than can be sustained," added Tony Dean, regional director at the Environment Agency. "We need to encourage businesses and the public sector to use resources more wisely, produce less waste and treat the waste they produce as a resource.”

With funding approved until 2012, the project is expected to create 300 jobs, safeguard 940 jobs, add £25.5 million to the value of the sector and divert 570,000 tonnes of waste from landfill across the Northwest.

Broomfield said there was no better time for businesses in the region to reposition themselves for the future. “Businesses that take the green agendas seriously now will be one step ahead in the future and better prepared for sustainable economic success,” he said.

Dean also encouraged businesses to see the economic benefits of green thinking and encouraged the region’s manufacturers to make the most of this golden opportunity: “We welcome this investment which will create opportunities for enterprise, innovation and employment in the growing waste technologies sector and help the northwest gain a competitive advantage,” he said.

The funding boost for Northwest businesses by the NWDA follows the announcement by WRAP that it has launched a £2.3 million grants scheme to support West Midland recyclers of commercial food waste and mixed plastics, through the WRAP Advantage West Midlands (AWM) Programme.