Projects will explore SME recycling opportunities
April 1, 2010
The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has set up two pilot projects that will examine new ways for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to overcome barriers to recycling.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will fund the projects as part of its Commercial and Industrial Waste Programme, and WRAP will manage them. The projects will involve the operation of a bring bank service on three sites for a period for at least six months. The intention is to develop commercially viable service models that can be replicated throughout England.
The hope is that, by offering a bring bank recycling solution, it will be possible for SMEs in the vicinity of the project sites to overcome the barriers to recycling, such as a lack of storage, difficulties with obtaining collections and a lack of incentive.
One of the projects will operate at two business parks on the outskirts of Bristol, while the second will make use of a site adjacent to a cash and carry warehouse on Merseyside. The Bristol project will make use of steel containers placed in accessible places to collect the materials for recycling. Those who sign up to the scheme will able to recycle glass, cardboard, paper, metal cans and plastic bottles there.
The Merseyside project will operate on a membership basis. SME’s will be able to sign up to the scheme via a bespoke website. The site will provide them with a cost-effective means of recycling paper, cardboard, rigid and flexible plastics, and waste electrical and electronic equipment.
WRAP will review the schemes after six months, with a view to rolling them out elsewhere should they prove successful.
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