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Tens of millions of pounds worth of valuable resources are locked up in mixed ‘black bag’ waste produced by the nations businesses.
According to the findings of a new report published by Zero Waste Scotland, millions of pounds worth of valuable resources for Scotland’s economy is being dumped by the nations businesses.
The report entitled, The Composition of Mixed Waste was based on research within three primary sectors, retail, education and health and social work.
The purpose of this report is to assist Zero Waste Scotland, government and government bodies, industry and commerce to develop policies, advice, tips and tools to help the reduction of mixed waste to landfill.
For the report mixed waste within the three main sectors, which is responsible for producing more than 50% of Scotland’s total mixed commercial waste, was examined.
Information from the report has found that over a quarter of the mixed commercial waste could be more widely recycled and more than half was potentially recyclable.
The most common mixed waste across all sectors was food, paper and card waste. Other materials which could also be recycled like glass, plastic and cans also appeared however they were in lower quantities.
Research from the report has shown that although three-quarters of businesses report that they do recycle or reuse some of their business waste, there are opportunities to do more. Businesses also need to encourage people to use recycling facilities as well as opportunities to introduce new recycling collections.
Amongst many of the key findings of this study, it also identifies how businesses can save money by reducing the amount they throw away.
Other important findings were:
• Disposing of over 372,000 tonnes of mixed waste has cost businesses across all three sectors more than £20million in landfill tax last year (2011/12), a cost which could be reduced by minimising waste and recycling more.
• Scottish educational establishments of all kinds send over 120 tonnes of unused paper to landfill each year, worth around £460,000.
• The Scottish health and social care sector send more than 30,000 tonnes of paper waste to landfill. Including newspapers, magazines, and unused A4-type paper, over 80% of this is potentially recyclable.
• The Scottish motor, wholesale and retail sector throws nearly £30million of whole or unused food straight in their general waste bin.
The Scottish Parliament viewed New Waste (Scotland) regulations in May; these regulations have been designed to prevent valuable waste from ending up in landfill.
Businesses in Scotland will be responsible for separating all paper and card, metal, and glass for recycling by 2014.
Businesses that produce more than 50kg of food waste per week will also need to separate this for collection by January 2014, and businesses producing between 5kg and 50kg of food waste per week will be asked to follow suit from 2016.
To view the report please, click here.
GPT Waste offer a full Waste Review Service free of charge. Find out how they can help your business deal more effectively with your waste: Call 0844 854 5000 or email here.
Subscribe to The Waste Solution blog by Email or subscribe to the RSS feed to receive regular updates.
Landfill tax is set to increase from £56 per tonne to £64 per tonne from 1 April 2012, an increase of £8 per tonne. This part of the Government’s strategy to address the UK’s ever increasing waste problem, however, with most small businesses in the UK still finding it a challenge to reduce waste and recycle more due to lack of support and services in their local areas, will the increase in cost provide better recycling services for commercial waste?
Every year the UK generates approximately 280 million tonnes of waste. According to the latest figures from Defra “The UK dumps 55 per cent of municipal waste into landfill sites, compared to a 40 per cent average across EU member states and Germany’s one per cent. Under the EU Landfill Directive, member states are required to cut the amount of biodegradable municipal waste they send to landfill to 50 per cent on 1995 levels by 2013 and 35 per cent by 2020.”
Landfill tax is the UK Government’s solution to stand in line with the rest of Europe. Improved waste management and recycling measures for domestic and commercial outlets is also a hot topic on the Government agenda and Defra has identified a potential £23billion saving for businesses if they can recycle more and reduce waste quantities.
Under its Waste Review, launched in 2011, Defra is working with local authorities and the waste agencies to improve recycling services offered to SMEs.
In October 2011 a new recycling charter was launched to help boost recycling rates and tackle the issues smaller businesses face in getting access to waste services, the voluntary Business Waste and Recycling Services Commitment - led by WRAP, aims to bring together smaller businesses that need recycling services, with local councils offering services, and agencies offering best practice waste reduction advice. Seven local authorities have already signed up.
WRAP’s commitment states 12 clear principles:
- Reliable and regular collections;
- Collection services tailored to meet the needs of your customers;
- Clear information about your recycling service;
- Providing access to household waste and recycling centres for businesses;
- Contracts managed by following the principles of best practice;
- Reasonable and clear fees;
- Guidance for businesses on responsibilities for waste management;
- Providing directory of local waste and recycling services;
- Helping businesses to donate unwanted items for reuse or buying quality second-hand products;
- Sensible approaches to enforcement;
- Providing easy ways to gather feedback; and
- A commitment to continuous improvement.
Recycling and waste management must made easier for businesses, more user friendly services and facilities will be offered to help smaller companies effectively manage their waste, whilst maintaining best practice techniques in line with environmental regulations. Based on the April 1st increase in landfill tax, as an example, businesses that produce 500 tonnes of waste a year will see an increase of £4,000/year in their waste management costs if they do not seek to reuse and recycle, even the very small businesses that fill one or two wheelie bins a week could see an increase in their fees of £15-30 per month.
There’s never been a better time to address commercial waste management and recycling plans for your business.
GPT Waste offer a full Waste Review Service free of charge. Find out how they can help your business deal more effectively with your waste: Call 01928 571 349 or email here.
Subscribe to The Waste Solution blog by Email or subscribe to the RSS feed to receive regular updates.
Landfill tax is set to increase from £56 per tonne to £64 per tonne from 1 April 2012, an increase of £8 per tonne. This part of the Government’s strategy to address the UK’s ever increasing waste problem, however, with most small businesses in the UK still finding it a challenge to reduce waste and recycle more due to lack of support and services in their local areas, will the increase in cost provide better recycling services for commercial waste?
Every year the UK generates approximately 280 million tonnes of waste. According to the latest figures from Defra “The UK dumps 55 per cent of municipal waste into landfill sites, compared to a 40 per cent average across EU member states and Germany’s one per cent. Under the EU Landfill Directive, member states are required to cut the amount of biodegradable municipal waste they send to landfill to 50 per cent on 1995 levels by 2013 and 35 per cent by 2020.”
Landfill tax is the UK Government’s solution to stand in line with the rest of Europe. Improved waste management and recycling measures for domestic and commercial outlets is also a hot topic on the Government agenda and Defra has identified a potential £23billion saving for businesses if they can recycle more and reduce waste quantities.
Under its Waste Review, launched in 2011, Defra is working with local authorities and the waste agencies to improve recycling services offered to SMEs.
In October 2011 a new recycling charter was launched to help boost recycling rates and tackle the issues smaller businesses face in getting access to waste services, the voluntary Business Waste and Recycling Services Commitment - led by WRAP, aims to bring together smaller businesses that need recycling services, with local councils offering services, and agencies offering best practice waste reduction advice. Seven local authorities have already signed up.
WRAP’s commitment states 12 clear principles:
- Reliable and regular collections;
- Collection services tailored to meet the needs of your customers;
- Clear information about your recycling service;
- Providing access to household waste and recycling centres for businesses;
- Contracts managed by following the principles of best practice;
- Reasonable and clear fees;
- Guidance for businesses on responsibilities for waste management;
- Providing directory of local waste and recycling services;
- Helping businesses to donate unwanted items for reuse or buying quality second-hand products;
- Sensible approaches to enforcement;
- Providing easy ways to gather feedback; and
- A commitment to continuous improvement.
Recycling and waste management must made easier for businesses, more user friendly services and facilities will be offered to help smaller companies effectively manage their waste, whilst maintaining best practice techniques in line with environmental regulations. Based on the April 1st increase in landfill tax, as an example, businesses that produce 500 tonnes of waste a year will see an increase of £4,000/year in their waste management costs if they do not seek to reuse and recycle, even the very small businesses that fill one or two wheelie bins a week could see an increase in their fees of £15-30 per month.
There’s never been a better time to address commercial waste management and recycling plans for your business.
GPT Waste is the largest independent provider of waste management solutions across the UK, providing sustainable waste services for its clients.
With over 400 service providers located nationally we deliver a fully compliant offering for all trade, commercial, confidential, hazardous, healthcare and construction waste, whilst delivering client specific focussed efficiencies.
To find out how we can help your business deal more effectively with your waste phone 01928 571 349 or email us
GPT Waste offer a full Waste Review Service free of charge. Find out how they can help your business deal more effectively with your waste: Call 01928 571 349 or email here.
Subscribe to The Waste Solution blog by Email or subscribe to the RSS feed to receive regular updates.
GPT Waste is the largest independent provider of waste management solutions across the UK, providing sustainable waste services for its clients.
With over 400 service providers located nationally we deliver a fully compliant offering for all trade, commercial, confidential, hazardous, healthcare and construction waste, whilst delivering client specific focussed efficiencies.