The SME Collaborative Recycling Fund to help firms comply with new waste regulations

Zero Waste Scotland has launched a new £250,000 funding programme to help small businesses comply with new waste regulations.

The SME Collaborative Recycling Fund is being made available to support the development of flexible, cost effective business or community led collaborative initiatives which aim to increase SME recycling in their local areas.

New Waste (Scotland) Regulations will require all businesses to separate paper and card, plastic, metal and glass for recycling by the end of 2013.

Businesses producing more than 50kg of food waste per week will also need to separate this for collection, and businesses producing between 5kg and 50kg of food waste per week will be asked to follow suit from 2016.

Marissa Lippiatt, head of business support at Zero Waste Scotland, said: “The new regulations will boost Scotland’s economy by ensuring quality waste materials do not end up in landfill, and we are committed to helping Scotland’s businesses adapt to meet their requirements.

“Supporting small business to work together to collect and manage commercial waste will allow them to overcome common problems which can make recycling seem challenging, such as lack of space to store recycling or low quantities making waste collection contracts more costly.”

Zero Waste Scotland is now inviting applications from interested parties who would like to implement a collaborative recycling project.

Expressions of Interest to the SME Collaborative Recycling Programme 2012/13 can be made here