Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) and Scottish Enterprise are urging businesses to apply to the £3.8-million Scottish Recycling Fund (SRF) to further reprocessing, repair, and remanufacturing work.
First launched in March 2014 by ZWS and Scottish Enterprise, the SRF allows organisations ‘interested in developing key sorting, repair and reprocessing capacity for waste materials in Scotland’ to take out a loan for developing a project improving green infrastructure.
Organisations with ‘innovative’ ideas for sorting, repairing and reprocessing the following materials are invited to apply:
- plastics;
- tyres;
- textiles;
- glass;
- industrial food and drink processing waste;
- waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE); and
- plasterboard.
These materials have been selected based on ‘environmental impact, potential job/GVA opportunities and activities supporting a more circular economy’.
Projects that divert materials for energy recovery can also apply to the fund, however these will be seen as ‘lower priority’ and applications for energy recovery projects will need to provide ‘evidence that they target only those materials that cannot be economically recycled higher up the waste hierarchy’.
According to ZWS, the key objectives of the SRF are:
- to establish ‘key reprocessing infrastructure’ in Scotland;
- to divert materials from landfill and other waste treatment into ‘high-value end uses’ and achieve related carbon savings;
- to develop infrastructure for ‘problem waste streams’ in Scotland;
- to generate additional jobs and added value in Scotland from these activities;
- to support a range of projects, which are unable to access funding from other commercial sources; and
- to help in the development of more circular business models in Scotland.
Products and materials eligible for the fund are based on the environmental impact, potential job or volunteer opportunities arising and activities that ‘support a more circular economy’.
ZWS has said that although there’s no ‘immediate’ deadline, businesses should apply for bids as soon as they can.
‘Realising the value in our waste materials’
Richard Lochhead, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, said: “Developing new business opportunities in repair or remanufacturing of valuable products, and realising the value in our waste materials like plastics, textiles and glass will make our economy more circular, and more resilient, while reducing our carbon emissions.
“I’d strongly urge any businesses who think they might be eligible to contact Zero Waste Scotland to see what funding and support might be able to help them develop these businesses of the future.”
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, added: “The Scottish Recycling Fund is an important source of investment for businesses looking to develop a more sustainable, circular model, and it’s available right now. A circular economy is one which creates and sustains jobs and moves away from the outmoded ‘take make and dispose’ approach, preserving resources for the future. Zero Waste Scotland is encouraging any firms which think they may have a business idea which fits the criteria to contact us as soon as possible.”
Find out more about the Scottish Recycling Fund.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.