Welsh Government allocates 2.3m recycling fund

The funding was awarded under the Collaborative Change Programme, a scheme set up in 2011 to offer Welsh councils technical support and advice on how to meet recycling targets as part of Wales Towards Zero Waste strategy (see letsrecycle.com story).

The announcement sees Powys county council receive the largest investment, obtaining 1.19 million for the acquisition and development of depots and bulking facilities to support its kerbside recycling service.

Further south, Newport city council will receive 967,000 to be split between the purchase of land to extend a recycling facility, bins to store residual waste, and the purchase of recycling boxes and food caddies.

Elsewhere, Bridgend county borough council will gain 66,500 for capital works on a civic amenity site, while Swansea city council will get 152,978 for an automatic number plate recognition system to enhance control of its household waste recycling centres (HWRCs).

Announcing the funding today, minister for natural resources and food Alun Davies welcomed the efforts made by councils and householders to recycle.

He said: This funding will support projects that help local authorities to meet our recycling targets as we work towards a zero waste future for Wales.

Thanks to the efforts of Welsh householders and local authorities, we are now recycling over half of our municipal waste. This investment is designed to support local authorities as they continue to make improvements.

Prevention

Last week, the minister launched the Welsh waste prevention programme, which sets out how businesses and households in Wales can reuse or extend the life of its products as part of its commitment to achieve zero waste by 2050 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Targets set out in the plan, which complies with the EU Waste Framework Directive, will see the Welsh Government aim to cut household and commercial food, paper, and plastic packaging waste by 1.2% every year until 2050.