Strict new waste regulations are on the way, which will affect businesses of all types and sizes. The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 will apply to solicitors, accountants, insurance brokers and all other service businesses, as well as industrial, logistics and construction companies. Firms that do not comply will be breaking the law.
So what do the new regulations require businesses to do? The legislation states that companies must “confirm that they have applied the waste management hierarchy” and include a declaration to this effect when disposing of waste. In simple terms this means before throwing anything away, firms must consider whether they can:
- Avoid using it in the first place
- Reuse it
- Recycle it
- Recover it for use elsewhere
- Only then can it be discarded as waste.
With the UK rapidly running out of landfill sites, the aim of the legislation is to encourage recycling and reuse. Carbon Friendly Lighting’s approach of adapting existing light fittings, rather than replacing them, will help you demonstrate compliance with these waste regulations.
