WRAP offers second slice of Regional Market Development Fund

WRAP – the Waste and Resources Action Programme – has made 2 million available in this second tranche of its fund, which aims to strengthen markets for recycled materials.

With a primary focus on biodegradable materials, the fund will be available to virtually any type of local or regional organisation in England that strengthens recycling markets for materials under WRAP's remit – glass, paper, wood and plastics.

And, WRAP said it is also willing to consider organisations dealing with other materials or items such as tyres, waste electronics and end of life vehicles. Energy-from-waste projects will not be eligible, however.

Liz Goodwin, WRAP's director of materials programmes, explained: “WRAP has already awarded 1.89 million to a number of strong regional initiatives in the first tranche of funding, and these projects have now started and will continue to deliver beyond the two year funding period. The second round of funding will build on this momentum by focussing on local and regional initiatives.”

Projects can receive financial assistance in a variety of areas, from capital costs to research and development, it said. But, the funds will not go towards revenue activities and are intended for projects that will be operational before April 2006.

Target
The government-funded organisation is using the fund to reach its target of increasing the tonnage of materials collected, recycled or composted by 373,000 tonnes by March 2006. Of this tonnage, 260,000 tonnes is to be biodegradable municipal waste, which WRAP hopes to turn into at least 130,000 tonnes worth of compost products.

Mervyn Jones, special projects manager at WRAP said that biodegradable materials would be key in the distribution of the fund. He said: “Given this is a regional fund we will be looking for projects that can demonstrate the viability of the PAS 100 for smaller niche markets.”

Applications for the fund will be assessed based on the tonnage of material that can be recycled or composted, WRAP said. The application process will be in two stages – projects will have to send in an outline proposal, before successful applicants then submit full applications.

More information is available from Mervyn Jones on 01295 819633 or by emailing mervyn.jones@wrap.org.uk.