Kent leads way on waste

1.17.00pm GMT Mon 23rd Nov 2009

Last week local Euro MP Catherine Bearder visited Countrystyle Group, seeing first-hand how funding from Europe is helping companies in Kent find innovative solutions to waste management.

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is the second largest part of the EU budget and is used to create jobs and encourage innovation. The ERDF has been supporting companies such as Countrystyle Group to create recycling facilities for bulky waste items discarded by businesses and households. This work is part of a £320,000 project managed by Remade South East which aims to develop markets for unwanted carpets, mattresses, plasterboard, waste wood, furniture and bulky plastic items and to reduce the amount of waste being taken to landfill sites.

Catherine, herself a leading campaigner on reusing waste, said "the EU is leading the international community on measures to protect the environment. It is investing heavily to find solutions to the environmental crisis the world faces."

"As well as there being an environmental argument for this there is also a clear economic one. Investing money in local businesses like Countrystyle Group creates jobs in our region, and the work they do keeps Kent at the forefront of the knowledge market in this important and exciting industry."

Remade South East is a not- for-profit waste market development programme which researches and supports alternative markets for waste materials from the domestic and commercial sectors in order to prevent waste going to landfill sites

Countrystyle Group are one of eight partners in the ZeroWISE Bulky Waste project. Managed by ReMADE South East, the project runs over three years and receives £321,370 in funding (50% from the ERDF and 50% from other sources through the South East England Development Agency).

Countrystyle Group will receive £42,000 over the three years of the project.