Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) Programme Mark Atherton Head of Sustainable Development Northwest Regional Development Agency Nick Storer Head of Environmental Technologies Envirolink Northwest

Overview Background National Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) Programme Regional Delivery of BREW Research, Planning and Partnerships Better Communication (Environment Connect) Acceleration through coordination (NW Waste Project) Conclusion

Background Northwest England 230,000 businesses 6.8 million people £ 98bn economy The Northwest is the second largest UK producer of waste, generating approximately 24 million tonnes per annum: 8.3m tonnes of Commercial and Industrial Waste 3.8m tonnes Commercial 4.5m tonnes Industrial 11m tonnes of Construction and Demolition Waste (Regulator Estimate) 0.6m tonnes Hazardous Waste Landfilling is not a sustainable long-term option

Barriers to UK Waste Strategy Not enough focus on waste reduction, minimisation and reuse Concern over inappropriate targeting of funding Too many initiatives in place with a lack of coordination at strategic level Lack of comprehensive, robust data on Commercial & Industrial Waste Lack of understanding of the key issues relating to waste i.e. cost Constraints on waste management industry i.e. planning, risk, resource limitations

True Cost of Waste 37% of all businesses think that their organisation has no environmental impact. (Envirowise 2003) British manufacturing could add £2-3 billion to its profits if environmental best practice were made standard, wastage of raw materials reduced and waste re- used or sold as recovered products. (Cambridge Econometrics 2003)

Barriers to Business Engagement Lack of knowledge of the issues Businesses dont know where to go for the support they need Lack of time, staff resource and expertise to address resource efficiency There is a plethora of different programmes and projects offering support to businesses Delivery bodies are not always aware of the needs of businesses in the region

BREW Programme Aim 3 year programme, to return additional landfill tax receipts, from April 2005, to business in a way that supports businesses in improving their resource efficiency and waste management.

BREW Year 2 Funding Awareness raising Practical Support for Minimisation Value from Unused Resources Recycling of Waste Changing behaviours Reducing risks to business

The RDA role - Regional coordination Coherent Communication To ensure businesses are getting a good service To ensure businesses know where to go for the support they need To ensure delivery bodies are aware of the needs of businesses Coherent Delivery To ensure businesses are not approached in a haphazard manner To ensure delivery bodies are not overlapping in the provision of advice and support to business To enable gaps and synergies to be identified

Regional BREW Delivery Support ENWORKS - helps SMEs in the Northwest increase their competitiveness and reduce their impact on the environmental by providing a range of practical business resource efficiency support services Envirolink Northwest - supports the development of the Environmental Technologies and Services sector in the Northwest through: stimulation of R&D activity; development of skills and knowledge; and promotion of the ETS sector regionally, nationally and internationally

BREW-NW Activities SHORT TERM Wider Waste Action Plan Communications Strategy Stakeholder Engagement Regional project support Coordination of regional resource efficiency support Online Monitoring Toolkit LONGER TERM Environment Connect Northwest Waste Project Joint partnership initiatives Sustainable Procurement Green Tourism Additional Research

Wider Waste Action Plan Develop new markets for recyclable materials Establish demonstration plants Link Research & Development Develop case studies & pilots Highlight the business opportunities from recycling Gather better data on wider waste Improve coordination amongst delivery bodies Support current programmes of activity Promote closer integration of wider waste and municipal waste treatment Upgrade skills to meet the emerging demand

Communications Strategy

Perceived sources of help on environmental issues

Environment Connect Simplify how businesses can access the right support for their business needs. Service complexities should be invisible One interface Match business needs to services in an informed and objective way ESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE Signposting website Freephone helpline number Robust referral system

Northwest Waste Project Feasibility Study Undertaken Partnership between the Public & Private Sectors Coordinate a suite of activities to: Link Research & Development Demonstrate waste technologies Eg Orchid Biof-uel Plant Developing the supply chain Developing the market Funding from NWDA, DEFRA, Waste Authorities & Waste Businesses

Conclusion Regional coordination can add significant value to National initiatives Strong partnership working is key to success Need to: Clearly define the problem Understand the issues Plan and prioritise Consult with stakeholders Build upon existing regional frameworks Continually monitor and evaluate results