Wales announces £22m grant for environment and sustainability initiatives

The package includes £2.7m for Keep Wales Tidy, £9.5m for the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and just under £1m for the Welsh Local Government Association. Thirteen other organisations will benefit from the funding, including waste and resource initiatives and wildlife and environmental groups.

Announcing the funding at an eco-schools event at the Senedd in Cardiff this week, Welsh Minister for Natural Resources Carl Sargeant said: “I’m particularly pleased with the mix of excellent organisations that have attracted funding – from wildlife organisations and champions of sustainable land management to those reducing waste and encouraging recycling.”

Sargeant said the grants will deliver benefits to local communities and the natural environment and was evidence of the Welsh Government’s commitment to delivering a sustainable Wales.

Community funding

The announcement comes after the Minister for Natural Resources agreed an extension of grant funding for thirty one local projects until 2017.

The Welsh Government’s £418,000 grant was offered to a number of small scale and local sustainability projects. The projects ranged from environmental enterprises to food growing and recycling schemes.

Sargeant said the benefits to local communities would “build capacity and create lasting change.”

Energy recovery

Last week saw the official opening of Viridor’s Energy Recovery Facility in Cardiff. The Trident Parak plant was formally opened by First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones.

The £223m energy recovery plant will help five local authorities and local businesses transform their non-recyclable waste into renewable energy to power Welsh homes and businesses. The plant will handle 350,000 tonnes of waste each year and generate enough energy to power 50,000 homes and businesses.

Viridor chief executive Ian McAulay said the facility was “transforming what some see as ‘waste’ into a vital energy source for Wales and extracting every ounce of value from what people throw away.”

Wales also announced £3m of funding for local authorities to boost recycling, with councils expected to meet 58% recycling targets by 2015-16.

Matt Field