The trust will invest 2 million into research and development projects and 4 million for waste awareness projects.
The Landfill Tax Credit Scheme was originally designed to re-distribute money from the Landfill Tax to communities near landfill sites for environmental improvement projects. The government decided to reform the scheme in November 2002 following criticisms that it wasn't providing value for money (see letsrecycle.com story).
Reforms carried out in April 2003 saw two thirds of the LTCS money, about 100 million each year, distributed via the public purse to improve sustainable waste management in the UK. The LTCS as it remains no longer provides money for sustainable waste management projects, although a legacy fund was set up to smooth over the transition to the new arrangements (see letsrecycle.com story).
The SITA Environmental Trust has decided from the funds it has left over from the old LTCS, it will invest 2 million in research projects looking into the Mechanical Biological Treatment of waste. A further 4 million for projects that will raise public awareness of waste issues, particularly for “young people and practising professionals”.
John Leaver, chairman of the SITA Environmental Trust, said: “Following the government's decision to change the scheme, it would have been very easy for us to wash our hands of sustainable waste management projects. However, we feel there is still a lot we can do, in targeted areas, to enhance waste management practices in the UK”.
Mr Leaver said: “Following changes to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme in April 2003, the Trust Board carried out a major funding review. These two areas were chosen because they offer exciting opportunities and need considerable investment.”
Tenders
The trust is now encouraging projects to submit tenders for the money available. A spokesman for SITA told letsrecycle.com that it had not yet been decided whether to spend the money on national or local projects. With the 4 million on education, he said, the possibility had been raised to invest in some kind of visitor centres for raising awareness of waste issues among the public.
The trust's remaining reserves, along with credits under the new LTCS regime, will go to an “expanded community and environmental improvement programme”. This will involve projects located within 10 miles of an active SITA (UK) landfill site.
Mr Leaver said: “As the successor LTCS gets underway we will be working hard to ensure it's a success. We need to prove that we are making a difference and, in time, we hope the government can be encouraged to increase funding to the successor scheme.”
More information on how to apply for the LTCS funds are available on the SITA Environmental Trust website.
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