A partnership has been set up to help West Yorkshire firms reduce the cost of getting rid of waste.

The Pennine Waste Exchange is a free waste exchange service for firms in the area.

It is a joint venture between the award-winning Waste Minimisation Programme which was set up by Keighley Business Forum, Business Link Bradford & District and Calderdale and Kirklees Green Business Network.

The free scheme, which is open to firms in Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees, aims to help companies cut the cost and quantity of waste disposal, reduce costs and raw material requirements and improve a firm's environmental performance.

The partnership also gives advice on waste minimisation, waste audits, advice on waste legislation and allows companies to access a database of recyclers.

A number of firms are already benefitting from waste minimisation schemes. Pets Choice in Cullingworth is a pet food manufacturer which was getting rid of 80 large polythene reels a week.

The firm's supplier is unable to take the reels back because they have oil stains on them. Now the company donates its used reels to Keighley firm Textile Cones who granulate them.

Before the scheme was set up the reels were sent to a landfill site - now the scheme helps save Pets Choice £1,000 a year.

Calderdale fishing bait producer Pendlebury Baits developed a product from waste from biscuit makers and bakers which is used by anglers as groundbait. The scheme saves 300 tonnes of material from being sent to landfill sites.

A spokesman for the scheme said today: "People often do not appreciate the value of materials they are handling because they have not been told. Talking about savings in pounds is more meaningful than quoting percentages."

Anyone interested in the scheme should contact Emma Knapper on 01422316661.

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