£800,000 grant fund for SMEs pioneering waste prevention
Resource efficiency news – by Thomas McMullan
30th May 2014
Grants of up to £50,000 are to be offered to local businesses, SMEs and voluntary groups through a scheme which aims to jump-start pioneering partnerships in waste prevention.
The £800,000 Innovation in Waste Prevention Fund, managed by resource efficiency group, WRAP, with funding from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), is open to applications from two or more parties working together on a project which innovatively deals with waste.
According to a statement from WRAP, the fund “aims to boost voluntary opportunities and provides the potential to create employment by promoting the introduction of new services and the adoption of alternative, anti-waste business approaches.”
Projects that could be funded range from textile repair skills workshops run by local businesses to educational establishments working with businesses to design products that result in less waste.
“Stronger economy”
According to a statement from WRAP, the fund “aims to boost voluntary opportunities and provides the potential to create employment by promoting the introduction of new services and the adoption of alternative, anti-waste business approaches.”
Projects that could be funded range from textile repair skills workshops run by local businesses to educational establishments working with businesses to design products that result in less waste.
“Stronger economy”
Resource Management Minister Dan Rogerson 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.”
With programmes across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, WRAP works with a wide range of partners, from major UK businesses to SMEs, with the core aim of minimising resource use and diverting priority materials from landfill.
Working together
“This is an excellent example of the work we are supporting and I would urge everyone with innovative ideas to get involved.”
With programmes across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, WRAP works with a wide range of partners, from major UK businesses to SMEs, with the core aim of minimising resource use and diverting priority materials from landfill.
Working together
Jude Andrews, WRAP project manager, said: “Preventing waste is about finding ways to keep items in use longer and not generating as much waste in the first place. It’s about rethinking the way we do things – redesigning and remanufacturing the things we use – changing attitudes and changing behaviours about what we buy and what we throw away, but most of all, working together and thinking creatively to do something about it.”
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 September 1 2014.
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 September 1 2014.
For more information and to download an application pack please visit www.wrap.org.uk/iwp.
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