The department's Technologies and Innovation Fund (TRIF) is putting 1.36 million into research looking at innovative technologies and processes that will help to divert waste going to landfill.
Commenting on the project Elliot Morley, environmental minister, said: “Sustainable waste management is now a commercial imperative, not just an environmental ideal. This research programme marks a step forward in government's plans to find more sustainable ways to manage waste and to plan for the long term.
“With good management, we can achieve greater resource productivity and a cleaner, better protected environment. Better knowledge and understanding of waste issues are essential to underpin effective policy making and specific action programmes designed to change the way we generate as well as manage waste streams in the UK. This programme takes us a step closer to our goals,” he added.
Projects
The funding is to be split between five different projects, based at the University of Leeds, Chester's C-Tech Innovation, Imperial College London, University of Southampton and the University of Nottingham.
The five groups will be covering a number of different areas, including, “particle size requirements for effective bioprocessing of biodegradable municipal waste” at Southampton and “evaluating the effect of autoclaving on the rate of bioprocessing of waste” at Leeds.
Defra believes that through this funding it could see the United Kingdom reducing the amount of waste going to landfill, open up new markets for high grade compost and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Although the research is funded through Defra's Waste Implementation Programme the research is part of the government's new strategy for waste related research. The strategy, launched last month, encourages research into cross cutting issues (see letsrecycle.com story).
Under the EU Landfill Directive Britain is attempting to reduce landfilled biodegradable municipal waste to 75% of that produced in 1995 by 2010.
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