The money was announced by DEFRA last week and will be distributed over the next two years to fund local authorities' recycling projects (see letsrecycle.com story) (see letsrecycle.com story). For this round of funding, DEFRA has removed its previous bias towards bids made by local authorities with poor recycling performances and has also allowed the submission of bids that cover both years of the funding.
Andy Doran, chair of LARAC, said: “This next round of funding will build on the good work and innovative schemes funded through the initial 140 million and help develop further the infrastructure needed for authorities to meet household recycling targets.”
Despite the changes to ease the application process, councils have until November 10 to submit 'e;xpressions of interest' and LARAC has expressed concern this and other deadlines, especially for partnership bids, are very tight. The committee has also urged its members to read the guidance and selection criteria carefully when preparing their bids to make sure they are well structured.
Mr Doran said the future of financial support for local authority recycling projects needs to be discussed and organised. He said: “The way forward now for LARAC, DEFRA and WRAP is to work on how the ongoing revenue costs to authorities of increased recycling and communications can be adequately funded and how these communications can be best used to ensure the public fully utilise collections and facilities.”
London
The London Recycling Fund has welcomed the 20.5 million allocated specifically for the capital from the Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund last week (see letsrecycle.com story).
London Waste Action, the Mayor of London and the Association of London Government run the Fund in a partnership which began in 2002 and has since distributed a total of 24.9 million.
Stephen O'B;rien, chair of London Waste Action, said: “This is very good news for London! An extra 20.5 million to support sustainable waste management initiatives over two years will give a massive boost to London's waste authorities, the waste and resources business sector and householders in their efforts to recycle more and meet London's recycling targets.”
The London Recycling Fund partners have announced that they will be consulting stakeholders during November and December to discuss the priorities for waste management in London and prepare guidance setting out the specific categories for applications. For grants in 2004-05 13.7 million will be available with the remaining 6.86 million offered for grant support in 2005-06.
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