WRAP nets 17m for environmental body

WRAP – the Waste and Resources Action Programme – has won a commitment of about 17 million to WREB – the Waste and Resources Environmental Body. The money is to go towards the newsprint recycling project for which WRAP is currently assessing bids.

A spokesman for WRAP confirmed the creation of WREB and explained that the environmental body had been created with the specific aim of supporting the newsprint project.

Michael Meacher
Only this week Environment Minister Michael Meacher said in a written House of Commons answer that the government did want to see more landfill tax money going towards recycling and sustainable waste management projects.

He was asked as to what proportion of landfill tax will be given to local
authorities which are responsible for waste management, in order to fund
recycling initiatives in (a) the current year and (b) 2002-03.

Mr Meacher replied: “Landfill site operators can
contribute a proportion of landfill tax revenue to a range of projects via
the landfill tax credit scheme. Under the rules of the scheme, local
authorities cannot receive funding from this source. However, the hon.
Member may be interested to note that up to 31 August 2001, 15
Environmental Bodies (EB's) based in the county of Essex had spent
approximately 1.2 million on sustainable waste management related
projects.

“The Government's policy, as set out in 'Waste Strategy 2000', is that the
landfill tax credit scheme should be delivering an increase in recycling.
The Treasury has subsequently issued indicative guidelines which said spend on sustainable waste management projects should increase to 65% of the credits available through the scheme, with at least a third of this being spent on recycling projects.

“In the 2001 Budget statement the Chancellor said that in the longer term
the Government are attracted to replacing the scheme, in whole or in part,
with a public expenditure programme. That remains the position, although we have made no decisions yet about abolishing or radically changing the
existing scheme.”