South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)

Support to Invest in Recycling

15 September 2006

Grants are being offered to South East companies planning investments in new recycling capacity in South East England by EnviroBusiness, the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) backed network to promote innovation and enterprise in environmental technologies.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste is produced in the region, from packaging, to food waste and builders' rubble. But only fractions of this are being recycled now, partly because the facilities are simply not available at which they can be reprocessed into new products or made ready for more distant end markets. The aim of the grants, which are open to any business planning an investment to start between January and March next year, is to encourage companies of all sizes to increase recycling capacity in the region.

EnviroBusiness' Chief Executive, Tom Fourcade, explains: "As a region we need to create more capability to recycle, reuse and reprocess waste - as well as stimulate the market for the resultant materials produced". The kind of waste envisaged includes food as well as construction and commercial wastes. Tom Fourcade adds: "New directives from Brussels, requiring ever higher levels of recycling, are likely to dramatically increase the need for such facilities in the South East and we are determined to help recycling businesses make the necessary investments."

Funding is available to businesses via two routes. One offers a maximum of £65,000 to cover up to 50% of capital costs; the other, specifically targeted at SMEs, can provide significant support for larger projects. The grants can be applied for from today (15 th September 2006) until 24 th November 2006, with grants being awarded by the end of the year.

Among the considerations to be taken into account when the awards are made is that there should be a three to five year supply of waste and a clearly defined market for the output.

Full details of the grants are available on the EnviroBusiness website, www.envirobusiness.co.uk or call them on 01293 813911.