WRAP launches £800,000 waste prevention fund

Grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 are being offered to business partnerships that seek to support local-level waste prevention projects. Partnerships can involve local businesses, councils, charities and voluntary groups.

The ‘Innovation in Waste Prevention Fund’ aims to support communities across England in their effort to prevent waste, stimulating long-term changes to business models that encourage items to be kept in use for longer.

Eligible projects that could be funded, but are not limited to, include textile or electrical repair skills workshops run by local businesses and voluntary groups and businesses working with local charities to prevent food waste by distributing surplus food to those who need it.

Councils working with local companies to re-use and repair items that businesses no longer need are also included.
 
WRAP stated that applicants can be from existing partnerships or ones newly formed to access the funding.

Speaking about the fund, Resource Management Minister Dan Rogerson said: “Preventing waste from being produced in the first place is not only good for the environment but helps to build a stronger economy and supports our businesses too.

“This is an excellent example of the work we are supporting and I would urge everyone with innovative ideas to get involved.”

WRAP project manager Jude Andrews added: “By working together on a local level people can really make an impact on what’s happening in their own community.

“Preventing waste is about finding ways to keep items in use longer and not generating as much waste in the first place. It’s about rethinking the way we do things – redesigning and remanufacturing the things we use – changing attitudes and changing behaviours about what we buy and what we throw away, but most of all, working together and thinking creatively to do something about it.”

Liz Gyekye