Wrap is making grants of up to £50,000 available to groups working together to develop innovative local waste prevention projects. The funding aims to stimulate anti-waste business models, create new jobs and boost voluntary opportunities.
Wrap says it is looking for innovative projects that support local communities across England to prevent waste arising in the first place. The funding will prioritise materials outlined in Defra's waste prevention programme for England, and applications are invited from two or more parties working together on ideas to prevent waste.
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."
Projects that could attract funded include local businesses working with councils and charities to reuse and repair redundant office furniture and household goods, or businesses working with community organisations to distribute surplus food to those who need it. Other joint ventures could involve establishing workshops run by local companies and voluntary groups to develop skills in, for example, repairing electrical equipment, or businesses working with local colleges to design new products that reduce waste.
Wrap says the £800,000 fund is about supporting creative ideas for preventing waste and encouraging businesses and communities to work together at a local level to set up schemes. "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," said Wrap project manager Jude Andrews.
The funding is only for new waste prevention projects, and all applications will need match funding in place, either in staff time or other funding, before awards are granted.
The fund will run for two years and grants will be awarded in three phases. Applications for the first phase need submitted to Wrap by 1 September 2014. For more information and to download an application pack go to www.wrap.org.uk/iwp.