£10m top up for processing UK food waste
Liz Goodwin, WRAP’s chief executive officer said: "We are delighted that this additional funding has been ear-marked to support the rapid development of food waste reprocessing facilities across the UK. It will help to stimulate a greener economy by creating skilled jobs in construction, collection and reprocessing – and bring significant environmental benefits."
The money will fund the construction of new composting and anaerobic digestion facilities and extends on WRAP’s existing programmes, claims the organisation. “Our programmes have been operating for over five years and will divert more waste from landfill, create more renewable energy and produce more useful agricultural products,” it said.
Anaerobic digestion
The latest boost to funding is in addition to the £10m to help build anaerobic digestion demonstration plants announced by Hilary Benn, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in February 2008.
Meanwhile, earlier this month four of the US’s leading carton manufacturers joined forces to boost packaging recycling across the country. Tetra Pak, Elopak, Evergreen Packaging and SIG Combibloc have joined forces to form the Carton Council dedicated to improving the carton recycling infrastructure across the US.
“The Carton Council has come together now because we believe we can begin to make an impact on carton recycling in the long term,” a spokesperson for Tetra Pak told FoodProductionDaily.com.
“While 60 million people in 26 states have access to carton recycling today, there is still some work to be done to address US recycling infrastructure and ensure recyclable and renewable materials are recycled. This unique alliance aims to increase carton recycling, as well as a stronger recycling infrastructure nationwide.”
Recycling Programmes
One of the Carton Council’s first alliances is with waste and environmental company Waste Management and the Tropicana brand to ensure cartons are included in all its recycling programmes.
Robert Dishman, director for Waste Management Recycle America, said: "Waste Management is dedicated to making recycling more accessible for consumers across the country.
“One of our sustainability goals is to triple the amount of recyclables we process from nearly eight million to 20 million tons by 2020 with the support of companies like Tropicana."
