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PRESS RELEASE

May 20, 2004

CRN/AN/PRconf

To be released immediately

CRN UK WELCOMES GOVERNMENT BACKING OF COMMUNITY SECTOR

Elliot Morley's, the Minister of the Environment's, news - announced at the 2004 Community Recycling Network UK Annual Conference - that the Government is making available £4 million for the development of the community sector has been welcomed by the CRN UK.

Andy Moore, Co-ordinator of the Community Recycling Network UK, says: "The CRN UK welcomes this money for the community recycling sector which shows that the Government recognition of the contribution of the sector is growing.

"Mr Morley's speech at the conference shows there is significant political support for us - the £4 million will make an important contribution to the development of the sector. We are also hoping that, over time, the sector will see significant financial benefits from the announcement of the long-awaited review of the recycling credits system.

"We are looking forward to working more with Mr Morley and DEFRA WIP."

The conference on Wednesday (May 19) attracted 300 of the UK's leading community recyclers and local authority representatives who heard Mr Morley praise the work of the community sector.

He said: "Community recyclers have a very important role to play. I have no illusions about the scale of the task we face in improving recycling in this country. A future key to success is to grow our relationship with the community sector."

ENDS

Notes for editors:
The Community Recycling Network UK is a national umbrella organisation for more than 300 community groups, co-operatives and not-for-profit businesses in the community waste sector. Its aim is to promote community-based recycling as the most effective way of tackling the UK's growing waste problem. Its members have achieved some of the highest recycling rates in the UK and offer separated kerbside recycling collections to two million households - eight per cent of the UK population.

The Community Recycling Network UK is based at Trelawney House, Surrey Street, Bristol, BS2 8PS, tel: 0117 942 0142. The CRN UK website is www.crn.org.uk.

For all media enquiries please contact: Andy Nelmes, CRN UK Press Officer, 0117 908 0415 or 07949 626119, andyn@crn.org.uk