Grant News

The National Cup Recycling Scheme (NCRS), administered by Valpak, has launched the Beyond the Bin Fund, offering grants of up to £45,000 to support projects that tackle challenges in paper cup recycling.

Opening for applications on 1 September 2025, the fund seeks proposals from UK-based organisations including

• businesses,
• councils,
• universities,
• startups,
• social enterprises.

Collaborative projects are welcomed, though one lead applicant must be a registered company with Companies House.

The scheme is focused on three priority areas:

• awareness campaigns designed to shift consumer behaviour,
• improvements to recycling infrastructure in high-footfall environments,
• and high-quality research addressing barriers to cup recovery and recyclability.

Eligible costs include staff time, materials, communications, and professional fees, though general overheads and unrelated capital purchases are excluded.

Applications close on 31 October 2025, with shortlisted candidates notified by 15 November. Up to five finalists will be invited to interview, and the winning project will be announced on 16 December 2025.

In addition to financial support, successful applicants will receive access to expert mentors, national promotion, and opportunities to collaborate with major brands in the recycling sector.