UK – new funding for waste management announced

A new £284 million initiative to help businesses manage resources more efficiently and cut waste has been launched by Environment Minister Elliot Morley. The Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme recycles revenue generated through increases in Landfill Tax to fund a range of free services and targeted support for businesses.



The programme specifically targets waste minimisation, the diversion of waste from landfill and improvements to resource efficiency.



Environment Minister, Elliot Morley said: "A wide range of industries, from manufacturers to retailers, can save literally billions of pounds a year by cutting waste and improving resource efficiency often with little or no investment. By getting involved, businesses of all sizes are set to boost profits while reducing environmental impacts."



The organisations being financed by BREW can help businesses manage resources more efficiently and cut their waste at every stage of the business process:



Research and development: to help businesses take ideas on resource efficiency and waste out of the lab and into the market via the DTI Technology Programme.



Market development: WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) will be developing new markets for difficult business wastes and provide advice and support for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) involved in recycling. A feasibility study on collection schemes for recyclable materials from SMEs will also be undertaken.



Strategic development: plan better with improved data on waste trends through Defra‘‘s ‘‘data on waste‘‘ strategy.



Product design: businesses can better inform their design strategies through early warning of policy direction and priorities, and influence policy thinking, through engaging with Defra‘‘s Market Transformation Programme and ‘‘design out‘‘ waste and inefficiency at the product design stage with free advice from Envirowise.



Operations: reviewing management systems and operations to cut pollution, reduce waste and boost profits with free site visits and advice from Envirowise and the targeted support from the Carbon Trust.



Market solutions to waste: the commercial use of one company‘‘s by-product as another‘‘s feedstock with the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme, another free service for business.



Ensure compliance: ensuring that when business do need to dispose of waste they do so in compliance with legislation, while cracking down on those who don‘‘t with new programmes being led by the Environment Agency that aim to create a more level playing field in legitimate waste management for companies to operate in.



Elliot Morley continued: "The programme has strong support from the business community. These are organisations that have already proven their worth to business; already they have collectively helped businesses in the UK to achieve over a billion pounds in cost savings.



"Their environmental contribution to date is hugely encouraging: diverting millions of tonnes of waste from landfill, cutting millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions along with other benefits, such as reducing water consumption. Elliot Morley concluded: "Reducing waste has always been a profit opportunity; in today‘‘s consumer, economic, ecological and regulatory environment it is becoming a necessity."



Mr Michael Roberts of the CBI said at the launch: "Waste minimisation can be a win/win for business, reducing impact of landfill, reducing resource requirement and saving costs. We welcome the BREW initiative launched today and will look forward to participating in the Steering Group to help ensure the funds are used effectively."



The development and administration of the programme is guided by a Steering Group of