Keighley firms are being invited to take out free registration on an innovative waste exchange scheme.

The scheme is designed to match their surplus stock and waste materials with other companies and organisations that can make use of it.

The Pennine Waste Exchange programme is the brainchild of a consortium consisting of Keighley Business Forum's (KBF) waste minimisation and management programme, Calderdale Green Business Network, Business Link Bradford & District and the West Yorkshire European Information Centre.

Degree student Laura Duffey, from Riddlesden, is spending six weeks with KBF's waste minimisation team as part of a scheme designed to help organisations use the skills of undergraduates during the summer vacation.

Laura is now working on a brief to develop the waste exchange scheme, and has mailed out details to 250 Keighley companies.

KBF waste minimisation manager Chris Sealey says: "Waste products and materials cost companies money. Disposal costs are steadily increasing as the government bids to discourage waste by raising taxes.

"Waste is an issue that firms can ill afford to ignore. The new exchange scheme is commercially and environmentally beneficial to all involved. It will cut both the quantity and costs of waste disposal, and at the same time reduce costs of materials for companies receiving them."

In one development, a Keighley firm of solicitors already sends its office paper waste to be used as horse bedding at a local farm, while old uniforms from a local hospital are being sent to Bosnian and Russian healthcare organisations.

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