WRAP

FULL DETAILS

What are the financial needs of recycling businesses?

It is important to improve the information available of the scale and type of investment required across the sector as well as the assistance that is required.

What sources of investment exist for recycling businesses?

Businesses can be financed through grants, debt, equity, venture capital, asset finance and other mechanisms. But which are readily available and most relevant to recycling businesses?

What will investors be looking for?

lnvestors have requirements that must be met by any business proposal. Understanding these requirements, what constitutes a high quality proposal and what concerns investors have with the sector are all key.

What opportunities do recycling businesses represent for investors?

Improving waste management and recycling is one of the biggest challenges facing UK industry. Consequently, the recycling sector is primed for significant growth and many exciting opportunities exist for investors in businesses ready to be part of this growth.

What barriers do businesses face in attracting investment?

Barriers to investment may constitute a lack of security. the low collateral value of specialised assets, the longevity of finance available, a lack of track record or poor market information.
How can these barriers be overcome?

Businesses must tell WRAP what their problems are and the financial community must tell us how we can utilise our resources to overcome them.

How can WRAP help to assist investment in the sector?

WRAP has already created a Business Development Service to assist businesses in the gLass, paper, pLastics and wood sectors in obtaining finance. However, WRAP has significant resources that can be utilised to facilitate the development of new Financial Mechanisms that can encourage increased investment in the sector. What mechanisms would be most beneficial and what else could WRAP be doing?
'lt is crucial that both business and financial communities engage in these events to help develop solutions for the future.'

Dr Bevis Watts. Business Development Service Manager. WRAP
Contact: Waste And Resources Action Programme
Tel: 01295 819900
Fax: 01295 81991
Email: info@wrap.org.uk
Web: www.wrap.org.uk


Approved Projects for WRAP R&D Funding (Glass and Plastics)

GLASS

Building Research Establishment Watford, Hertfordshire
To assess the recycling opportunities for non-contaminated, high grade flat glass and non-contaminated timber and plastic profiles from the demolition and replacement window industries.
£294,500.00

Centre for Cement & Concrete, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
To increase cullet consumption in concrete products through local collaborative partnerships and prepare technical specifications for a range of concrete products. £534,885.00

CERAM Research Ltd, Building Technology Division, Stoke-on-Trent,Staffordshire
To investigate the inclusion of up to 10% ground glass in manufactured clay bricks, including the energy and emission reduction benefits delivered on a commercial scale. £70,800.00

CERAM Research Ltd, Process & Materials Division,Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
To replace current sanitaryware fluxing agents with ground recycled bottle glass, also reducing energy requirements and emissions.
£166,000.00

Concrete Technology Unit, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland
To identify the Best Practicable Environmental Options (BPEOs) for the use of cullet in construction and to promote technical confidence in the use of cullet in this sector via an interactive CD-Rom and web-based advice service.
£124,000.00

Dryden Aqua, Midlothian, Scotland
To set up a facility to recycle glass into high quality cullet suitable for drinking water filtration and gain approval and market acceptance for its use.
£237,500.00

Glass Technology Services Ltd, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
To develop a methodology for returning end-of-life fluorescent tubes to the glass melter by analysing the chemical composition of the glass and the environmental impact of any trace contaminants.
£103,700.00

Mineral Industry Research Organisation, Lichfield, Staffordshire
To develop new grinding technology further to produce fine ground glass without excessive wear problems, allowing economic production of fine ground glass for bulk and higher value applications.
£266,700.00

Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford
To identify and resolve barriers to glass recycling and re-use from licensed premises in West Oxfordshire through a survey and trial collection scheme. To work with waste and recycling companies, the Environment Agency and breweries to promote recycling.
£180,223.00

Sports Turf Research Institute , Bingley, West Yorkshire
To assess whether ground glass would be a suitable replacement for good quality sands currently used in the sports turf industry, in particular in golf courses in root zone mixtures, bunkers and fairways.
£101,457.00

The Steel Construction Institute, Ascot, Berkshire
To establish the tonnages and types of architectural flat glass used in UK construction, including framing methods and materials and their impact on recyclability. To determine barriers to increasing waste glass collection, methodologies for collection and quality control.
£78,845.00

PLASTICS

Building Research Establishment, Watford, Hertfordshire
To expand the scope of the currently funded DTI project on construction site packaging waste in order to assess the full potential for economic recovery and recycling across all material types, including targeted segregation and collection mechanisms.
£48,300.00

Building Research Establishment, Watford, Hertfordshire
To increase the use and quality in the UK construction and related industries of products containing recycled plastics and composites by achieving certification for these products and stimulating market awareness.
£329,000.00

Bolton Institute, Bolton, Lancashire
To investigate the options for recycling carpet waste to produce new underlay with improved acoustic performance.
£156,187.00

Euro-Projects (LTTC) Ltd, Rothley, Leicestershire
To produce laminated plastic sheeting, with an outer skin of reinforced thermoplastic and a core of mixed plastic waste, to compete mainly with plywood in a range of flooring, partitioning and truck/trailer body applications.
£463,128.00

Material Engineering Research Laboratory, Hertford, Hertfordshire
To enhance the mechanical and chemical properties and biological degradation resistance of plastic media for use in larger filtration units and units for industrial waste.
£77,415.00

The Printed Circuit Interconnection Federation, a division of the Federation of the Electronics Industry, London
To investigate the technical and economic viability of recycling 25 litre polyethylene drums used to supply the printed circuit board and metal finishing industries in terms of design, content and decontamination.
£28,800.00


£2.1 MILLION FUNDING APPROVED BY WRAP FOR RESEARCH INTO GLASS RECYCLING

Innovative research into new glass recycling technology and market opportunities
£2.1m to be released over two years in first round of R&D funding
Potential to recycle an additional 300,000 tonnes of glass a year

The use of high quality recycled glass in the treatment and purification of the UK's drinking water is just one of a number of innovative recycling R&D projects approved by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme). Announced today, the first 21 research and development projects, of which 11 focus on glass, have been approved for funding as part of WRAP's Materials R&D Programme. The projects are aimed at increasing the use of recycled materials in the UK and more than 60% of the funding will be provided by WRAP, which is contributing over £3.6m towards the expected total cost of £5.6m.

The R&D funding initiative is an essential element of WRAP's work to create stable and efficient markets for recycled material. The projects, which cover glass, plastics and wood, will research innovative recycling methods and new uses for recyclate. The glass research projects include identifying and resolving barriers to glass recycling and improving collection in rural areas, increasing cullet consumption in concrete and other construction products, and new glass grinding technology. The mainstream glass manufacturing industry is also represented with a project to develop a methodology for returning end-of-life fluorescent tubes to the glass melter, and further research will be carried out on the use of architectural flat glass in UK construction and recycling options for waste flat glass from the demolition and replacement window industries.

In total, the glass projects will receive over £2.1m of WRAP funding. The research has the potential to result in an additional 300,000 tonnes of glass being recycled by 2004 and has been welcomed by the British Glass Manufacturers'Association (BGMA).

'Glass is one of the most recyclable materials and one which potentially can contribute the most to meeting environmental targets. I am, therefore, delighted that 11 of the 21 projects are related to glass,' said David Workman, Director General of the BGMA.

The R&D initiative was launched in September 2001 with a series of seminars throughout the UK explaining WRAP's priorities for funding R&D projects, and applications were solicited during October and early November. In total, 59 applications were received and following a rigorous assessment procedure, 21 projects were recommended to the Board of WRAP last week.

'The excellent response to the open call for research proposals highlights the real need for resources targeted at market development R&D in the recycling sector,' said WRAP Chief Executive Jennie Price, 'and emphasises the importance of the role which WRAP can play in stimulating recycling across the UK.'

'The high standard of the projects we are funding is a very positive sign for future years,' she added, 'and we will be launching another round of R&D funding in March.'

The projects will contribute towards the implementation of WRAP's Business Plan, launched in June 2001, which set targets across seven programmes, four material streams (paper, plastics, glass and wood) and three generic areas (procurement, financial mechanisms and standards and specifications).

The primary focus of the material programmes is to work with manufacturing companies, other businesses and Government on increasing the applications for recycled materials and the proportion of these materials used in products.

WRAP, a non-profit making company limited by guarantee, is supported by contributions totalling £40 million over three years from DEFRA; DTI; the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales.

It has been established to promote sustainable waste management and to create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products.

WRAP's target for glass for 2003/4 are:

35% (770,000 tonnes) recycling of municipal waste glass a year; securing an extra 350,000 tonnes of glass a year for recycling from all sources, including 100,000 tonnes from commercial sources;

absorb 100,000 more tonnes of glass a year through new uses including shot blasting, aquaculture and glass fibre insulation;

divert at least 200,000 tonnes of green and possibly mixed-colour glass into the construction industry for use as an aggregate; and

20% increase (20,000 tonnes) in flat glass collection for recycling.

WRAP will be launching a second Open Call for R&D Funding on the 18th March 2002 and a series of seminars have been organised throughout the UK explaining WRAP's priorities for funding R&D projects.