Westminster Compliance

At home councils are very good at encouraging us to recycle much of our household waste. They either collect it from outside our houses or ask us to take it to the local municipal tip.

The position for companies is totally different. Companies have to pay someone to dispose of or recycle their waste. Large companies often have the volume to make it worthwhile for a waste company to make a special trip to collect this waste.

For SMEs the position is very different. Things have improved considerably over the last few years, with waste companies supplying dry mixed recycling bins, glass bins, and cardboard compactors. However, the situation is still far from ideal. With the recent waste hierarchy legislation companies are obliged to reduce, reuse, recycle prior to disposal. One issue remains that for many SMEs the only realistic route to recycle their waste is the local municipal tip. If caught they are often fined or turned away at the gate.

According to the government, SMEs produce 30 million tonnes of waste a year and have achieved recycling rates of over 50 per cent. However, there have been widespread complaints from small businesses that they often can not find  cost-effective recycling facilities. Consequently, they are forced to throw out materials that could otherwise be recycled, breaking the latest legislation at the same time.

The Business Waste and Recycling Services Commitment that was announced on the 19^th October with the backing of the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Federation of Small Businesses aims to address this problem by encouraging councils to work with SMEs to improve access to recycling services.

While the detail is still not available this initiative has to be welcomed. It has been suggested the local municipal tips will be opeended up to SMEs, and also the range of materials collected may increase. The FSB has shown that 95% of businesses would recycle more if the facilities were readily available. They were pleased that Defra have launched this commitment to help local authorities work with SMEs.

Let us see what happens, but anything which can help companies to recycle their waste has to be welcomed.

Richard Blight

A recent survey carried out by the FSB found that that nine in 10 businesses would recycle more if they had access to better facilities.

Ahead of the Government review due this week the FSB has highlighted some simple steps that could be taken as many small businesses find it extremely difficult to access suitable waste and recycling services as many local authorities do not offer these services to businesses.

Small firms know that minimising waste makes business sense as well as benefiting the environment. Research has shown that when materials, energy and labour as well as disposal costs are included, a business could be spending up to four per cent of its turnover disposing of waste.

So whilst we wait the outcome of the review we can sit back, put our feet up & let this ‘nuisance’ continue to get in the way OR we could have an informal chat & see  where we could start helping you to save money & keep green. I know which sounds better to me..

Do you work in the food industry or provide catering services? For example, hotel, restaurant, cafe or food outlet.

Do you operate a canteen for your employees? Do you run a kitchen at your school?
Do you currently throw away the waste from your kitchen? Did you know that you could sell your waste oil and fat? Did you know you could recycle your food waste?

If you would like any further details, please contact us!