A CONFERENCE is being held this month to help businesses cut costs.

With recent increases in energy, fuel and raw material prices, margins are being squeezed, particularly in the region's manufacturing sector, which makes up a quarter of the North-East's economic output.

Regional development agency One NorthEast has organised a conference to highlight the benefits of sustainable resources and the support available to businesses.

Research shows that the manufacturing sector alone in the region could make savings of £106m by using more efficient resources.

The UK recycling market is estimated to be worth £12bn and is expected to rise to between £20bn and £30bn by 2020.

The Institute of Civil Engineers has estimated that £35bn-worth of investment in waste management infrastructure is needed by 2020 to meet Landfill Directive targets.

One NorthEast chief executive Alan Clarke, who will be speaking at the conference, said: "Every year the North-East generates 3.6 million tonnes of commercial and industrial waste and 4.8 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste.

"This important conference will not only demonstrate the benefits of sustainable resource management to the region's economy to try to address this problem, but will also highlight the various support programmes which are available to businesses."

The conference is at the Samsung Centre, Wynyard, Teesside on March 23. For more information, call 0191-229 6301.