Dorset recycling firm reports “staggering ignorance” of new landfill rules  (posted 28/01/2008)

BOSSES at a Dorset organics recycling firm are reporting continued “staggering ignorance” of a law requiring all businesses to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

It is now three months since the Landfill Directive amendment came into force on October 30, 2007, requiring businesses in England and Wales to pre-treat all waste before sending it to landfill.

Firms can do this by segregating or sorting waste themselves and recycling, recovering or composting at least part of it or by appointing a licensed waste contractor to treat it on their behalf.

However research from the Environment Agency’s regulation guidance site, NetRegs.gov.uk, found that more than one third of small firms were not recycling their waste. That adds up to about 1.6 million businesses.

Companies breaking the law are liable to fines from the Environment Agency.

Andy Hill, Sales and Marketing Director, Eco Sustainable Solutions, said many businesses still seemed to be “completely in the dark” about the new legislation.

He added: “There does seem to be a staggering ignorance about these important new regulations.

“There has been a fair amount of publicity in the trade and business press but this has missed by many. The result is that many businesses are, no doubt unintentionally, flouting the law and leaving themselves open to prosecution.”

• More details of the new Landfill Directive regulations can be found at www.netregs.gov.uk

ENDS

Editor’s Note: Founded in 1994, Eco Sustainable Solutions is one of the UK’s leading organics recycling firms, annually processing 120,000 tonnes of material on its 14-acre site at Parley, Dorset. End products include turf, enriched topsoil, compost and woodchip. Eco employs 29 staff and recorded a £3.5m turnover in the year to December 31, 2006.

For more information please contact: Andy Hill, Sales and Marketing Director, Eco Sustainable Solutions, on 01202 593601 or Andrew Diprose, PR Account Director, Deep South Media on 01202 534487.