MK City Council announce backing for local green projects

Milton Keynes City Council have announced financial backing for 5 projects using their Green Business Fund to help businesses cut waste, lower energy use and reduce carbon emissions.

Earlier this year, MK City Council offered grants of up to £25,000 to help local organisations reduce their emissions and make the city more sustainable. 

In announcing the allocation of funds, the City Council said one of the successful projects focuses on ‘industrial symbiosis’, a simple idea where waste from one business can become a resource for another.

For example, manufacturing or construction waste, such as packaging or sand, that would otherwise be thrown away can instead be repurposed by another company. This reduces waste, cuts costs of disposal and buying inputs, and lowers carbon emissions.

The other successful projects are:

• Sustainable Business: Milton Keynes (2.0) – tailored support for businesses to measure emissions, create practical carbon reduction plans and deliver Carbon Literacy training.
• Community Solar for MK Business – develop pipeline of projects to install community-owned rooftop solar panels on commercial buildings, giving businesses access to cheaper, cleaner energy. 
• MK Carbon Ready – tools, software and training to help up to 1,000 businesses measure and manage their carbon footprint.
• Green Business Sustainability and ISO Support Programme – supporting businesses to adopt recognised environmental standards and improve long-term sustainability practices.

The City Council said that together, these projects are seeking to enable many local organisations can take practical steps towards reducing their environmental impact while improving efficiency and resilience.

Cllr Jenny Wilson-Marklew, Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste and Sustainability, said, “These projects show the ambition and innovation of Milton Keynes businesses. By supporting practical solutions like solar energy and smarter use of resources, we’re helping companies cut emissions, reduce costs and build a more sustainable local economy. With ongoing volatility in energy prices, it’s more important than ever that businesses take steps to manage their energy use.

“Becoming more environmentally conscious not only reduces emissions, but helps protect businesses and the wider community from rising and unpredictable costs. This funding will play an important role in supporting the city’s long-term environmental ambitions.”