Development agency Yorkshire Forward and its waste unit Recycling Action Yorkshire (RAY) are hoping to run the new scheme if it attracts enough interest.
” We are looking for 20 to 30 companies to join this scheme, which will break down any barriers to recycling “
– Alex Hargreaves, RAY
RAY has said that for food manufacturers to have their waste recycled individually would not be cost-effective. However joining up to a single scheme would make recycling worthwhile.
Alex Hargreaves, food project manager for RAY, said: “We have had comments from food companies in the past that they are keen to recycle their waste but we have found it hard to arrange collections.
“The levels from each individual company can be small enough to prevent it from being economically viable. We are looking for 20 to 30 companies to join this scheme, which will break down any barriers to recycling or recovery to establish new sustainable collection schemes for food and drink business waste,” he added.
Event
RAY is holding an event next week (October 11) to provide potential customers with further details of how the scheme could work.
Trials are to take place in South Yorkshire, and RAY has said that if it is deemed a success further collections may take place throughout Yorkshire and Humberside. South Yorkshire was chosen because research carried out in 2005 showed a high level of food waste produced in the area.
According to RAY, the food industry in Yorkshire sends around 66,000 tonnes of waste to landfill.
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John Sorsby, food and drink cluster manager at Yorkshire Forward, said: “In the recently launched regional Food and Drink strategy, environmental best practice was identified as a key activity. We stated that we would 'promote engagement with regional and national partnerships to deliver innovative and sustainable resource management solutions'.
“This project is quite simply Yorkshire Forward putting words into action, I would encourage food and drink companies in the South Yorkshire region to explore this opportunity,” he added.
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