Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Margaret Beckett announced the fund today, revealing measures to target business waste minimisation and resource efficiency over three years.
”Every business, big and small, can benefit from this package of initiatives. “
– Margaret Beckett
In its first year – 2005/06 – the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) fund will plough 43 million into organisations including Envirowise, WRAP and the Environment Agency.
In 2006/07, 95 million will be made available, while the final year of the fund will see 146 million allocated to reduce business waste generation.
Unveiling the fund today, Mrs Beckett said: “Every business, big and small, can benefit from this package of initiatives which have been designed to move towards more sustainable production practices.
“If businesses use these services they should be able to recoup the increasing costs of landfill by reducing the amount of waste they send to landfill as well as driving down energy use – all of which should help them become more competitive through cash savings and increasing resource efficiency,” she explained.
Part of Defra's next five-year strategy, the Department said the fund will help to reduce the Landfill Tax bill the business sector pays on the material it sends to landfill. At the moment, the tax is 15 on every tonne sent to landfill, and is set to rise by 3 a tonne each year until it reaches 35 a tonne.
Industry
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) welcomed the funding announcement, describing the measures as “important” for improving business efficiency. CBI director of business environment Michael Roberts said: “Given that this revenue is coming from business it is absolutely right that it is being spent to help business save money by cutting its production of waste and being more energy efficient.”
In the first year of the fund, the government’s business waste advice service Envirowise will be given 10 million to provide resource efficiency assistance and a further 2 million to set up “waste minimisation clubs.
WRAP – the Waste and Resources Action Programme – will be given 4 million in total in 2005/06. This will mostly go towards the organisation’s market development work, specifically to develop markets for “difficult” business wastes. Some funding will also go to set up a pilot project for the collection of recyclable waste from small businesses. And, 500,000 will be used to help recycling businesses with start-up costs.
Agency
The Environment Agency is set for a 2 million boost to its action targeting illegal waste operators and fly-tipping in order to establish a “level playing field” for businesses on waste. Agency chief executive Barbara Young said: “We will use it to help companies that are trying to play by the rules and to catch those that aren't.”
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