Neil Hamilton AM welcomes £6.5m pound recycling fund

Neil Hamilton, AM for Mid and West Wales and Leader of UKIP Wales, is backing an initiative to encourage more businesses to increase their recycling.

Mr Hamilton, Party Spokesman for the Environment, has welcomed the launch of a £6.5 million Circular Economy Fund to help companies improve their use of recycled materials.

He said: “We are all aware of the need to safeguard the future of our environment and I am pleased to support any moves which will have far reaching benefits for us all in years to come.  These grants should help businesses involved in manufacturing to become even more recycling friendly. It is vitally important that we continue to lead by example. It is a known fact that in Wales, we recycle more than anywhere else in the UK and we need to continue to build on our achievements. We are the third best recycling nation in the world, which is no mean feat, and I welcome any initiatives to grow this success.”

Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government Hannah Blythyn said the fund will help to cover some of the costs of investing in new equipment and infrastructure, increasing the use of recycled materials in Welsh manufacturing.

The Circular Economy Fund will help Wales reach the milestones of 70% recycling by 2025 and 100% recycling by 2050, as set out in the Welsh Government’s waste strategy ‘Towards Zero Waste’.

A circular economy keeps resources in use as long as possible by recovering and regenerating materials at the end of their life instead of disposing of them.

Creating a circular economy for plastic waste is a huge opportunity for the economy of Wales as well as benefiting the environment. It will help create and protect jobs in Wales, by making our manufacturing companies more resource efficient and resilient and strengthening local supply chains.

The £6.5 million fund will offer grants to businesses of any size seeking capital investment funding to increase their use of recycled materials in manufactured products, components or packaging. WRAP Cymru will administer the fund on behalf of the Welsh Government.