THE Government has launched a £284m initiative to help North-East businesses reduce waste.

Environment Minister Elliot Morley said the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (Brew) programme would recycle revenue from increases in Landfill Tax to fund free services for businesses.

Mr Morley said: "A wide range of industries, from manufacturers to retailers, can save literally billions of pounds a year by cutting waste and improving resource efficiency, often with little or no investment.

"The programme has strong support from the business community. These are organisations that have already proven their worth to business - already they have collectively helped businesses in the UK to achieve over £1bn in cost savings.

"Reducing waste has always been a profit opportunity - in today's consumer, economic, ecological and regulatory environment it is becoming a necessity."

* For advice on reducing waste and environmental legislation, more information on Waste Minimisation Clubs as well as to arrange a free Envirowise site visit, contact the Environment and Energy Helpline on 0800 585 794. More information is available at www.envirowise.gov.uk

* To apply for a Carbon Trust Loan, or to find out how the Carbon Trust can help your business become more energy efficient, call the helpline on 0800 585794 or at www.thecarbontrust.co.uk

* Details of the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme can be found at: www.nisp.org.uk

* Details of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) are available on 0808 100 2040 or at www.wrap.org.uk

Published: 12/04/2005