A suite of communications materials to encourage householders to use their local re-use services for unwanted textiles and bulky items is now available. There were pilots with 6 local authority and third sector partnerships in Scotland and England and 5 of them saw an increase in tonnage as a result of using the WRAP communications materials. The report is available for you to download and instructions on how to access the communications templates are available too.

We have just launched the results of a study into consumer second-hand shopping behaviour. The report helps us to better understand purchasing behaviours and also identify the re-use displacement effect. The results are important to retailers and brand owners in understanding the impact of the second hand market on potential new sales.

WRAP is on the judging panel for the NESTA Waste Reduction Challenge Prize, funded by the Cabinet Office. Applicants had to demonstrate innovation, impact on waste reduction, community giving and engagement, viability of the delivery plan, and potential for sustainability and scale.

6 finalists have now been selected and will be supported over the next 6 months to demonstrate the potential of their ideas. The winner of the £50k prize will be announced in the Autumn. WRAP will offer some of the unselected applicants business support.

Round 2 of our capital grant for re-use and repair that aimed to increase re-use and repair of key products i.e. textiles, electricals and furniture, closed on 10 January 2012. There was a good level of interest and 34 grant applications were received. Grant awards have been offered to 15 organisations; both the third sector and SMEs totalling almost £300,000. Contracts are currently being negotiated and have the potential to deliver carbon savings of over 30,000 tonnes and create up to 120 full-time jobs.

PAS 141 re-use specification standard for used electrical and electronic equipment has been launched. The PAS is a process standard that ensures electrical products that are placed on the market or exported as re-used items are fit for purpose. The standard is available from BSI Group and more information on how to become certified is available.

Please forward this email to anyone you think may be interested in it and then they can subscribe to receive future issues.