£2.3 million grant scheme targets specialist recyclers in West Midlands

Recycling companies in the West Midlands region involved in diverting commercial food waste and mixed plastics away from landfill are being invited to apply for a share of £2.3 million offered through the WRAP AWM Programme.

Companies of any size can compete for a grant available through the large scale capital programme, which is being delivered by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) on behalf of regional development agency Advantage West Midlands (AWM).

Depending on where they are based and the size of their business, recyclers could receive up to 45 per cent of the total capital costs of their projects.

To be considered for a grant, projects will need to focus on the diversion from landfill of mixed plastics waste, or food waste by an ABPR (Animal By-Product Regulations) compliant process - such as anaerobic digestion or in vessel composting. In both cases inputs of waste should come from commercial and industrial sources.

The WRAP AWM Programme will be hosting four workshop events to help explain the scope of the programme, the type of projects it can support, how to apply and the range of other services available to recycling businesses. The workshops will be held on:

• Wednesday August 19th - Longbridge
• Thursday August 20th – Malvern
• Wednesday September 2nd – Stoke-on-Trent
• Monday September 7th – Coventry

Julia Turner, WRAP’s AWM Programme manager, said: “The large scale grants scheme is open to recycling and reprocessing companies of any size – from start-up businesses to major existing operations - for projects in the West Midlands.

“The size of grant a business can receive will depend on the type of organisation, where it is based, and how much value for money their project represents in respect of the tonnages of waste it will divert.”

Tim Baldwin, Sustainable Development Team Leader at Advantage West Midlands, said: “Since its launch in February, the WRAP AWM Programme has helped many recycling companies to develop their operations, and many more are due to receive assistance in the coming months.

“The large scale grants scheme will give further help to recyclers in the West Midlands, and assist the industry to increase productivity and attract new investment into the region.”

In addition to the large scale grants, the WRAP AWM Programme offers small scale funding of up £187,000 to recycling businesses in the region investing in new or expanded commercial and industrial waste capacity.

Since the small scale grants were first launched in March 2009, the WRAP AWM Programme has already provided a number of businesses in the West Midlands with funding totalling more than £600,000.

Omnia Recycling Ltd, in Bushbury Road, Wolverhampton, has benefited from the small scale grant scheeme.

Set up in 2002, Omnia Recycling uses mixed plastics waste from domestic, commercial and industrial sources to manufacture a range of green products - including fence posts, railings, bollards, and sign posts.

The company turns over £1.5 million annually and currently employs 21 staff.

Managing director Jason Barker said: “The WRAP AWM grant has been a real financial lifeline because banks are just not providing risk capital in the current economic climate.

“The grant has enabled us to purchase equipment that will increase the company’s production capacity and improve the quality of our products.

“Omnia’s fence posts have been ordered in their tens of thousands. Made from household waste plastic including yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and carrier bags, they cost roughly the same as the wood equivalent and require zero maintenance.”

Mr Barker added that the new equipment will allow them to process 27,995 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste over a five year period, diverting this material from landfill.

The initiative also funds the provision of free business development services to recycling companies, including assistance with:

• business planning;
• raising finance;
• operations;
• marketing and sales;
• interim manager support;
• senior management training; and
• identifying and protecting intellectual property.

Companies that would like to compete for a grant through the large scale capital programme will need to read the scope and guidance documents available online at: www.wrap.org.uk/funding. Recycling and reprocessing companies have 12 weeks from today to apply for a grant from the Programme.