WRAP targets reuse through 50,000 grants

The competition will see small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including social enterprises, and local authorities apply for grants of up to 50,000 or 50% of the total capital required for the project.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) said the aim of the grant is to address the funding gap which currently exists where loans are not viable for reuse and repair organisations due to due diligence costs or constitution issues regarding loans, for example charitable charters.

Eligible items that could be funded via the grants include:

• Equipment needed for collections and sorting;
• Equipment for assessment and testing;
• Cleaning, repair and remanufacture equipment;
• Storage and stock management systems;
• Packaging systems for repaired and re-usable products; and,
• Alterations to workshop or retail premises.

However, in order to be eligible for a grant, the project must satisfy a number of evaluation criteria, including: value for money of the application against the amount of grant requested; strength of the business case; financial and operational robustness of the proposal; and market demand for the products delivered by the project.

The grant is part of a support package offered by WRAP for reuse, repair and recovery. The package also includes business support and loans via the Waste Prevention Loan Fund which is open for any material to apply.

Benefits

Commenting on the grants, Mervyn Jones, head of products and materials at WRAP, said: There are not just big environmental benefits in businesses increasing market development opportunities in this sector. Re-use and repair, particularly of textiles, furniture and WEEE can generate jobs and social benefits too.

Through these grants were aiming to support businesses that have commercially robust plans to increase re-use and repair of products. The small-scale grant will help get them over the initial hurdle of reconfiguring or acquiring new assets to facilitate re-use and repair. We were pleased to see excellent take-up from social enterprises and charities as well as commercial organisations in the first round, and look forward to seeing some fresh ideas for the new round.

Applications must be returned to WRAP by January 10 2013. Grants are offered on a first come first serve basis.

WRAP is currently in negotiations with 11 organisations from the first round of funding which it said has the potential to deliver carbon savings of 18,000 tonnes and create 58 full time jobs.