In just four weeks time every business in the South West will need to have a system in place for treating their non-hazardous waste before disposal to landfill, say sustainable business experts Envirowise.
The new regulations will affect the 6.6 million tonnes of waste that is managed in this region alone.1 While there are already regulations in place which compel firms to separate and treat hazardous waste2 from 30th October businesses will also need to consider treatment options for all their non-hazardous waste destined for landfill – which could include anything from bricks, wood and soil to food waste, paper and plastic.
The regulations represent the next step in the Europe-wide Landfill Directive3 and are likely to change the way businesses think about and handle waste on a daily basis.
Paul Gilbert, Envirowise Regional Manager for the South West, says: “The main objective is to encourage companies to consider options for minimisation, segregation, recycling and re-use, before automatically sending something to landfill. Treatment can be as simple as separating different components at source, some of which could then be recycled.”
Other treatment options include physical treatment, such as breaking down waste brick into aggregate, thermal treatment such as incineration or mechanical biological treatment (MBT) which involves processes such as composting or anaerobic digestion. Crucially, many of these approaches offer opportunities for extracting energy - and therefore commercial value - from the waste.”
It will be the responsibility of landfill operators in England and Wales to ensure that non-hazardous waste has been treated before accepting it for disposal.4
Paul adds: “In the longer term we are hoping these new rules will encourage people not just to focus on the treatment stage, but to consider whether their waste needs to be generated at all. The more South West businesses can do to reduce the use of raw materials at the outset – the more resource efficient and cost-efficient their operations will be.”
For more information on how to save money through the efficient use of resources and advice on management of all waste types, businesses can call the Envirowise Advice Line on 0800 585 794 or visit www.envirowise.gov.uk/waste
Further guidance on the Treatment of Non-Hazardous Wastes for Landfill can be found on the Environment Agency website at:
http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/GEHO0207BLWJ-e-e.pdf?lang=_e
Ends
1 Environment Agency Landfill Inputs 2005
2 The Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) regulations 2005
3 Applied by the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002
4 Treatment can be managed by the waste producer themselves, or outsourced to a waste management company
Issued on behalf of Envirowise by Trimedia Harrison Cowley.
Media Contacts: Peter Stilwell, Rachael Kilburn or Rod Dennis at Trimedia Harrison Cowley on 0117 929 2311.
About Envirowise
Envirowise is a Government-funded programme dedicated to putting the sustainable use of resources at the heart of UK business practice.
Since 1994 Envirowise has helped UK businesses save over £1bn by enabling them to significantly reduce their environmental footprints.
Envirowise offers businesses of all sizes and sectors a wide range of free, independent and practical advice designed to genuinely improve their processes, profitability and competitiveness. Services include:
- The Environment and Energy Advice Line on 0800 585794
- An encyclopaedic website (www.envirowise.gov.uk) of valuable and relevant information
- Over 200 events each year, from Product Design Workshops to major exhibitions