Be ready for new waste regulation affecting all businesses
New waste regulations are coming into force on September 28 2011 that will change how all businesses – large and small – deal with their rubbish. For the first time, businesses including the very smallest, will have to consider the hierarchy of waste options open to them – prevent, reuse and recycle – before disposing of waste. I blogged about the changes back in April but there is no more time to delay. Otherwise you could be breaking the law.
Don’t get caught out – make sure you are complying or it could cost you a fine.
Environmental matters are now relevant to all service businesses as well as industrial, logistics and construction companies. Solicitors, accountants, insurance brokers, all service companies, everyone needs to comply.
In short, before throwing something away you need to consider whether you can:
- Prevent using it
- Can reuse
- Can recycle
- Can recover for use elsewhere.
Only then should you consider disposal.
For many businesses the majority of their rubbish is paper and cardboard. Both of these are easily recyclable. For confidential waste there are shredding facilities.
However, the waste legislation hierarchy starts with prevention. This is an opportunity for companies to look at what they throw away and decide whether or not they can reduce what they discard.
Do you really need to print a document, can you print double-sided? Is it important for everyone to have a printed copy of the company policies, or could there be an online library where these documents are stored?
These are the kinds of the questions you will need to start asking.
The possibilities are endless and cover every aspect of our waste stream. Up until now we have not cared. Now, quite rightly, we are being told to care.
If you want to look at the legislation in more detail go to the Business Link site.
