Small Business Recycling Assistance Withdrawn

Just as the environment starts to take greater prominence on the small business agenda, a scheme to help businesses to go green is abandoned.

A scheme set up to help Small Businesses to recycle has been dropped by the organisation that runs it.

The Funding Support Scheme for Recycling Services to Businesses was initially introduced as a boost to help UK SMEs to go green. WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme, started the scheme in October last year with funding from Defra department BREW – the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste Programme.

But after Defra cut its funding WRAP has decided to abandon the scheme. 40 applications for the scheme had already been received. It looks like these organisations will either have to go it alone or seek assistance elsewhere.

WRAP have indicated that they will continue to support and expand upon their services to help SMEs be more environmentally friendly and will make announcements through the business section of the WRAP website.

SMEs should also be aware that they will need to do more to recycle and cut unnecessary waste when the Landfill Tax rises to £8 a tonne from April.