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North Yorkshire County Council is inviting community groups to bid for a share of the Community Recycling Fund (CRF) ? a grant open to community sector organisations to support their work in raising awareness of re-use, recycling and composting activities.

Awards of up to ?5,000 are available to eligible groups for projects that meet one or more of the following objectives:

* To increase the amount and range of materials reused, recycled or composted by the community sector in North Yorkshire.

* To increase the number of community groups and charities registered with the Third Party Recycling and Reuse Credit Schemes.

* To increase the capacity of community groups to raise awareness, reuse, recycle and compost within their local community.

* To encourage partnership working between community groups and with Local Authorities and business.

County Councillor Clare Wood, executive member with responsibility for waste management, said:

?The Community Recycling Fund is a great initiative which enables charities and community groups to make a real difference in their local area.

?Community schemes have a large impact on the amount we reuse and recycle and we should do all we can to encourage them to continue with their efforts well into the future.?

Applicants are expected to raise at least 25% match funding to help meet the project cost. The application deadline for this round of funding is the 8 August 2007.