Cambridgeshire and East Sussex county councils, and Peterborough city council, have all been awarded cash to help businesses in their areas recycle and reduce waste.
Work with local businesses is particularly important now the Chancellor has announced a steep increase in landfill tax
Cllr John Reynolds, Cambridgeshire council
The grants follow assurances in the England Waste Strategy, published in May, that councils – which deal primarily with household waste – would be given financial incentives to fund pilot commercial waste schemes.
Former environment secretary David Miliband told Parliament, as the strategy was launched, that the “Berlin Wall” existing between the two waste streams did not make sense (see letsrecycle.com story).
Cash
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Partnership (RECAP), has been awarded £210,000 and East Sussex County Council has received £55,000.
RECAP's money was provided by Defra's Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme, and East Sussex's came from the South East Economic Development Agency (SEEDA).
BREW's funds are geared towards “trailblazer” schemes – as stated in the strategy – which aim to develop best practice in collecting trade waste, and involve cooperation between councils, businesses, private waste companies and community groups.
RECAP
RECAP spokesman Councillor John Reynolds who is Cambridgeshire's planning and regional matters portfolio holder, said the partnership had been awarded beacon status for excellence in recycling household waste, last March.
He said: “Government wants to see councils use their influence as local community leaders to work with businesses and other organisations to achieve more sustainable waste management practices, and as a leader in this field, we jumped at the chance.”
“This work with local businesses is particularly important now the Chancellor has announced a steep increase in landfill tax in the last budget, which will hit all companies' profits if they do not reduce and recycle their waste.
“We want to see local businesses remain competitive as well as reduce their environmental impacts and so are keen to help them recycle through this grant,” Cllr Reynolds added.
East Sussex
East Sussex has set up its trade waste service with Brighton-based recycling firm Magpie Recycling. It will operate along the coast from Peacehaven to Eastbourne.
Councillor Matthew Lock, cabinet member for environment, said: This project will enable us to continue to help our local businesses both to make more money and to reduce their impact on our environment – it's a ‘win-win' situation.”
For more information, businesses in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough should email mark.Shelton@cambridgeshire.gov.uk and commercial@magpie.coop in East Sussex.
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