New Recycling Laws
Nov 22, 2007
Author: Clive Hitchen

Clive Hitchen says:

“We can provide help and advice to local businesses to ensure their compliance with the new provisions. They include new sanctions against businesses which do not deal with their rubbish appropriately. The regulations are known as “producer pre-treatment” regulations and require even small businesses to recycle waste. However, in a recent survey only one in five senior directors of small businesses knew of the changes.

The rules are similar to those at home to which many individuals are already subject and require companies to sort their waste or pay charges for it to be disposed. If you need any advice in this area call Clive Hitchen on 01494 521301.

Waste disposal company Briffa gives the following examples:
Examples:
Example 1 - An office has a paper recycling scheme in place. The residual waste that is collected for disposal to landfill is considered to be pre-treated as its weight has been reduced from what it would have been if there was no office paper recycling scheme in place.
Example 2 - A pub has a separate container into which it places its empty bottles. The general waste is then considered to have been pre-treated.
Example 3 - A small industrial unit has a front end loader container for its waste. Its waste cardboard is kept separate and collected in bundles for recycling. The general waste is considered to have satisfied the pre-treatment requirements.
Example 4 - An office has the toner cartridges from its printers collected for recycling. The residual general waste is considered to have satisfied the pre-treatment requirements.
Example 5 - A site places all of its waste into a container which is then emptied by a compaction vehicle. The waste is NOT considered to be pre-treated and will then have to be treated at a separate facility before delivery for disposal to landfill.
Example 6 - A large factory site with an office block has office paper recycling. However, there is no separation of any waste from the production line for separate treatment. The residual office waste would be considered to have satisfied the pre-treatment requirements but the production line waste would not and would have to be collected and treated in a separate facility for disposal to landfill.
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