Small businesses not prepared for landfill ban

Over a third of small business in the UK are not doing any recycling, putting a major environmental measure in jeopardy, a new survey suggests.

A study by environmental guidance website NetRegs.gov.uk found that about 1.6 million  businesses in the UK are not recycling any waste. However, recycling is a fundamental requirement of the Landfill Directive amendment, which comes into force on October 30.

Under the new regulations, all businesses in England and Wales will have to pre-treat waste before sending it to landfill, which in practice means segregating or sorting waste themselves. Other alternatives include appointing a licensed waste contractor to treat it.

The new rules apply across the EU and require all businesses – regardless of size – to take active measures to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, in order to reduce reliance on limited landfill space.

But the survey found that just 15% of small and medium sized enterprises have carried out a waste minimisation survey, and only 40% were found to have an environmental policy in place.

Richard Martin, NetRegs programme manager, said: “All businesses have a ‘Duty of Care’ to ensure that they describe their wastes properly and only give it to an authorised person.

“From 30 October when you transfer your business waste to someone else, you should also tell them whether the waste has been treated or not. If it has not, you should ask your contractor to treat it for you.

“It is good practice to fill out a written declaration that this has been done, so that the landfill operator can ensure they are compliant in taking the waste, and to keep a copy of the declaration yourself.”