News in Brief

WRAP is calling on retailers to take advantage of its 8 million fund supporting innovation in packaging design.

The Waste Minimisation Innovation Fund aims to help retailers to minimise the waste from packaged goods. WRAP – the Waste and Resources Action Programme – believes that around half of the 30 million tonnes of household waste produced in the UK originates from purchases in supermarkets and convenience stores.

The deadline for retailers to apply for the fund is April 14, and WRAP has organised a second series of seminars to provide guidance on applying during February and March.

So far, WRAP said over 35 companies have applied to the Innovation Fund. The organisation's head of innovation, Richard Swannell, said: “We have already received some great proposals that have the potential to deliver direct and significant reductions in household food and packaging waste levels but we need more.

British Glass is claiming success for a recycling campaign in which shoppers were exposed to the awareness message in supermarket aisles.

The glass industry trade association worked with supermarket chain Asda in the Leeds branch of the chain to use on-pack recycling promotion in the run-up to Christmas.

Shoppers were told “recycling this bottle or jar saves enough energy to power a TV for 20 minutes”

The materials told shoppers that “Recycling this bottle or jar saves enough energy to power a TV for 20 minutes”.

Researchers found that 39% of shoppers in the store had been made to act or think about recycling after exposure to the campaign materials.

Andrew Hartley of British Glass said the campaign had been designed to get the recycling message across at an individual level. Mr Hartley said: “Getting consumers to think about recycling glass while they are shopping is a powerful addition to our efforts to change consumer attitudes to recycling.”

Ian Bowles, head of corporate responsibility at Asda added: “The potential for similar schemes in the future is considerable.”

London Remade has secured 500,000 for a project which aims to increase the “closed loop” recycling of beverage packaging in London.

Funded through Shanks First Landfill Tax Credits, the project will operate as a research initiative, with toolkits, reports and case studies on the findings being published throughout its two-year period.

London Remade brokers will help firms in the capital to purchase more products made from recycled beverage packaging material, and will assist in the separation and collection of waste packaging generated by the firms themselves.

Debbie Morris, Closed Loop project manager, said: “We believe that the project will raise awareness of the closed loop concept, but more specifically it will enable us to help participating organisations to manage their resources more efficiently.”

A computer reuse centre has been opened in South-East London by the Southwark-based OFFERS/Ex-IT project.

Working in partnership with Southwark council, OFFERS/Ex-IT collects redundant computer equipment from businesses and residents. Computers in reusable conditions are tested and refurbished while older or broken computers are refurbished.

The centre was officially opened by Phil Davies, head of waste management for Southwark council. He said: “Useful computer equipment is thrown out every day whilst some people are unable to afford new computer prices. This project will stop that by ensuring that computers are reused of their parts recycled.

OFFERS/Ex-IT is a project set up and managed by Community Recycling in Southwark Project, which receives funding from London Remade and the Big Lottery Fund's Community Recycling and Economic Development programme.