WRAP’s business recycling pilot nears conclusion

Led by WRAP, the 10-week pilot scheme is planned to run until 21 April. The scheme, titled Business of Recycling, is hoped to help businesses evaluate what has and has not worked in preparation of the rollout of consistent collections for households and businesses across the UK. This is set to be rolled out in 2024/25.

In the government’s consultation, it proposed that dry recyclable waste streams collected from non-household municipal premises “should include the same materials as those in the equivalent recyclable waste streams from households.”

The pilot will promote the launch of a new business of recycling website which will provide a waste calculator tool to help businesses “learn how much waste they generate and how recycling can help save money”.

It also features step by step guidance to ensure they are compliant with the regulations and free downloadable communication resources to promote recycling in the workplace.

Funding

The local authorities awarded funding were Bristol city council, which received nearly £25,000, and Somerset county council with an award of £15,500.

Solihull-based Sustainability West Midlands, an independent sustainability adviser, has been awarded more than £31,000, London-based New West End Company, a group of 600 businesses, was awarded just over £28,000. Liverpool Business Improvement District was handed £12,410.

Businesses in these regions will also receive dedicated business advisory support to help them “understand how the regulations will affect them, what they need to do and what resources are available to help them”.

The pilots aim to test a variety of approaches in different areas and compare the success rate of areas using dedicated support and the tools with those making use of the tools only.

Business

WRAP has led similar projects in the past with the aim of increasing business waste recycling.

In 2016, it launched an ‘apportionment tool’ in partnership with NAWDO, LARAC, Defra and the Environment Agency/Natural Resources Wales.

This aimed to provide consistency in the approach used by local authorities to apportion tonnages, improve the accuracy of data and assist with budgeting and service development.