WRAP Dedicates Money to Boost C&D Recycling

Recycling of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in the UK is growing, helped by tailored support from WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme).

The Waste & Resources Action Programme has guaranteed close to £5 million (approximately US$8.8 million) through its eQuip Residual Value Guarantee program; £3 million of which has been leased by companies operating in the C&D waste sector.

Thirteen companies have benefited so far, and the equipment they have leased through eQuip has created an additional 828,000 metric tons of recycling capacity for waste materials including aggregates, wood, plastics, glass and paper.

WRAP is encouraging both companies with established recycling operations and those looking to move into this area to take advantage of the eQuip scheme to obtain the equipment to meet this demand.

“We not only want to hear from existing recycling companies,” says Susannah McClintock, WRAP’s investments manager. “Waste management companies and skip companies wanting to diversify into recycling may also be eligible for assistance through the eQuip scheme.”

The eQuip RVG scheme guarantees the future residual value of leased recycling equipment such as shredders, crushers and screeners, as well as more specialist sorting equipment. Historically, banks or lease finance providers have been reluctant to provide leases for new technologies in unfamiliar sectors. With the residual value underwritten by eQuip, the scheme’s ten finance providers are more comfortable about providing lease deals on recycling equipment. They are also encouraged to offer more competitive lease terms and flexible repayment options.

The eQuip RVG program is open to companies whose current or planned business activity deals with the recycling of glass, plastic, wood, paper, aggregates or organic waste materials. Eligible equipment will be for sorting, reprocessing or recycling, collection technology or infrastructure, or manufacture of products incorporating recycled content.

The eQuip scheme is not available to companies who plan to use their plant or machinery for the production of fuels for energy production or who intend to use their plant or machinery to generate energy from waste. Nor can the scheme be used for standard vehicle leasing. Second hand equipment can be guaranteed through the scheme, but equipment cannot be re-leased or sold and leased back.