WASTE cycling grants for the private sector have been introduced by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin. Projects involving capital spending of £40,000 or more on waste recycling facilities can apply for grant aid.

The maximum grant will be 50 per cent of expenditure with an upper grant limit of about £40,000. The EU is cofunding the scheme under the Operational Programme for Environmental Services for Ireland 1994-1999.

The new grant scheme is aimed at consolidating and extending existing recycling operations and at encouraging new entrants into this market, Mr Howlin said yesterday.