Update on UK-NISP

Dear All

Just a quick update on NISP's achievements in the last 3 years. This also includes its present situation due to the funding cut however the news article displays great enthusiasm of NISP. In this news article NISP assures that a modest increase in funds could deliver in excess of 5% of the UK Government's commitment to the Kyoto Agreement by 2011. (What do you think?)

Between April 2005 and March 2008, NISP has:
• Diverted over 3.39 million tonnes of waste from landfill
• Reduced CO2 emissions by over 4.43 million tonnes
• Made over £89.2 million in cost savings for industry
• Generated £123.4 million in additional sales for industry
• Attracted over £110.0 million in private investment in reprocessing and recycling
• Avoided the use of 5.99 million tonnes of virgin materials
• Reduced the use of potable water by industry by over 9.22 million tonnes
• Eliminated 333,188 tonnes of hazardous waste
• Created and safeguarded 1870 others

NISP run by International Synergies Ltd of Birmingham - has had its Defra funding cut by about 40% for the next financial year. Due to this cut, a review of their operational structure is underway. This is perhaps resulting in a number of redundancies at NISP and their major sub-contractors. Some further details of this news are available in the article. . Budget cuts do not appear to be reflecting the past performance of NISP or any other BREW programmes. According to the government, strategic decisions have been made regarding allocation of funds and how they should be used to support businesses in the future. These cuts have appeared as a concern both to business and environment groups at a time when environmental agenda was gaining momentum among businesses in the UK. Business Groups claim that revenue collected from businesses through landfill tax should be returned to them through the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste Programme, which has been the case in the past. Detailed news on the funding cuts is available on the greenbiz website. Regardless of the funding cuts, it is clear that government recognises NISP to be a great contributor to business resource efficiency and therefore continues to fund it.

On a brighter note, Peter Laybourn confirms that along with success in the UK in last 3 years, international work is being very successful. He comments "We have now launched in Mexico and China and we anticipate work will commence in Brazil later this year along with South Africa"

There may be several other changes that will take place in the strategy and operations of NISP but for now the programme appears to be successfully moving forward both nationally and internationally.

This is just a quick update about NISP. Please drop a note if you have any other updated information or insight. I and all others would look forward to any comments regarding this post and regarding NISP, funding cuts and the UK Government's strategy.

I will be back with other news and updates shortly. You can also look forward to an update on IS efforts in Portugal which will be posted shortly by a precious contributor on the blog. Please provide update on IS efforts in your country or any other IS projects that you have been involved with. This will ensure that we all are well informed of IS projects around the world; most information is available on this blog for anyone interested in IS; and most importantly we can keep in touch.

Regards

Abhi
http://www.abhibiz.co.uk