Reduce waste, save money, think green! › ... › a-buisness-guide-to-reducing-waste.pdf · 2020-06-16 · time. Boxes and packaging material may be used for people moving house,

Reduce waste, save money, think green!

A business guide to reduce your waste

The essential business waste guide for Slough businesses

www.slough.gov.uk 1

ContentsWhat is waste?........................................................................................................ 2

Why should businesses care about waste? ...................................................... 2

The Waste Hierarchy ............................................................................................ 3

Legislation .............................................................................................................. 4

Duty of Care .......................................................................................................... 4

Pre-treatment of Non-hazardous Waste .......................................................... 4

Waste Packaging and Producer Responsibility ................................................ 5

Packaging Waste Regulations ............................................................................ 5

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE) .................... 6

Batteries Directive ................................................................................................ 6

End of Life Vehicles (ELV’s) Directive .................................................................. 6

Hazardous Waste .................................................................................................. 7

Landfill Directive .................................................................................................... 8

What do I need to do? .......................................................................................... 9

How do I disposing and recycling my business waste? .................................. 9

The Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act ............................................ 10

Contact information .............................................................................................. 10

Top tips for managing waste .............................................................................. 11

Resource efficiency…your profits, your environment!

CO/5768/28-02-12


2 www.slough.gov.uk

What is waste? It can be anything you possess or produce, that youwant or require to get rid of. Once a substance orobject has become waste, it will remain waste untilit has been fully recovered and no longer poses apotential threat to the environment or to humanhealth.

Commercial waste is from any part of a propertyor premises used for the purposes of trade orbusiness.

Trade waste is a traditional description ofcommercial waste often used by local authorities.

Small and medium sized enterprises/businesses(SMEs), include:

• medium sized businesses with less than 250staff, a turnover of less than £42 million (50million), or a balance sheet total of less than £36million (43 million);

• small businesses with less than 50 staff, aturnover of less than £8 million (10 million), or abalance sheet total of less than £8 million (10million); and

• micro-businesses with less than 10 staff, aturnover of less than £1.6 million (2 million), or abalance sheet total of less than £1.6 million (2million).1

Why should businesses care aboutwaste? Making one simple change can be a great start tosaving money, doing your bit for the environmentand enhancing your image.

Save money

Every business generates waste and creating wastecosts money, typically up to 4% of a businessesturnover. By finding ways to reduce waste, yourcompany could become more profitable, so it isworthwhile for businesses of all sizes to practicegood waste management including wasteprevention as well as reduction.

Fact: Evidence shows even low or no cost actions,such as increasing the amount you recycle, canreduce waste by at least 10% and produce quickreturns.

Help the environment

Less waste in landfill frees up land for other usesand reduces the production of powerfulgreenhouse gases such as methane, which isproduced when biodegradable material is sent tolandfill. Methane Emissions can lead to seriousenvironmental impacts, for example Methane isover 20 times more powerful green house gas thanCarbon Dioxide.

The transportation of waste to disposal sites alsoproduces greenhouse gas emissions from thecombustion of the fuel used in trucks and otherequipment.

Fact: Recycling saves raw materials and energy.Recycling just one glass bottle saves enough energyto light a 15 watt low energy efficient bulb(equivalent to a 100 watt normal bulb) for 24 hours.

Improve your reputation

As awareness of environmental issues grows, moreand more businesses are choosing to ‘Go Green’.You can improve your reputation amongcustomers, suppliers, potential employees andinsurers, who may want to be sure that you takeyour environmental responsibilities seriously. Youmay also boost the morale of existing staff.

Fact: During small business recycling trials, over athird of businesses said recycling had improvedtheir reputation within the local community.

1 http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/facts-figures-analysis/sme-definition/index_en.htm

By effectively managing your resources andpreventing and reducing waste you can:

• Save your business money

• Reduce energy consumption

• Enhance environmental performance

• Reduce operating costs

• Comply with legal obligations

• Improve the image of your business

• Improve your reputation within the localcommunity

• Even a simple review of your businesswaste can produce some quick wins.

Why not get going today by following some ofthe simple steps outlined in this guide.


www.slough.gov.uk 3

The waste hierarchyThe best way of managing our waste is not toproduce it in the first place. After that, we shouldreduce, reuse, recycle and dispose our wastewherever possible.

The ‘waste hierarchy’ specifies the best wastedisposal options and ranks them in order of theirincreasing environmental impact. The optionstowards the top of the hierarchy are more desirablethan those towards the bottom.

1. Eliminate

Eliminating waste entirely may not always bepossible, but by not creating it in the first placereduces costs of raw materials.

2. Reduce

Reducing the amount of waste you produce can beachieved in a number of ways, including theamount of packing used, reduce off-cuts andrejects, send information electronically, purchasematerial in bulk and use returnable containers.

Tips to reduce waste include:

• Set your printers to automatically print on bothsides, reduce paper waste

• Change settings on your fax machine andprinters, so you don’t print unwanted header ofreport sheets

• Print only when necessary, send emails ratherthan printing letters or memos to save paper andreduce ink usage

• Use washable cups rather than plastic or paperones

• Sign up to the mailing preference service toreduce unwanted mail

• Reuse boxes, envelopes and packaging material

3. Re-use

To limit extra spend of buying items in, many canbe re-used to reduce waste.

For example:

• Packaging - boxes can be re-used many times.

• Printer toner cartridges - choose a supplier thathas a returns policy so that they can be re-filledand used again.

• Paper - re-use paper from misprints and draftsas scrap paper in the office.

• Drums - many raw materials are delivered indrums that can be washed and returned to thesupplier, or re-used on site as waste containers.

• Furniture and textiles - waste furniture andtextiles may be of use to charities or to wasteexchange groups.

4. Recycle

Recycling is an increasing requirement throughlegislation in order to reduce the impact on theenvironment. Many items can now be recycled,speak to your local recycling centre or wastemanagement contractor to find out what they areand how they should be segregated and presentedfor collection.

5. Disposal

Disposal is the last resort when the other hierarchyoptions have been exhausted. There are legalobligations that all producers and handlers ofwaste need to comply with, so it is important thatyou contact your waste management contractor todiscuss options like recycling to make wastedisposal more efficient and save money.

Donate, don’t waste! Furniture and electrical itemsmay be suitable for re-use. Why not offer them to alocal charity shop or furniture reuse group to beused again and raise important funds at the sametime.

Boxes and packaging material may be used forpeople moving house, or someone who does a lot ofonline selling - why not offer them on an onlinewaste exchange site.

Some scrap waste and recycling materials areuseful for arts and crafts e.g. card, paper, plastics,stationery and textiles - why not ask your localschool, college or community centre if they wouldlike any material for their creative activities.

RE-USE

RECYCLE

DISPOSE

REDUCE

ELIMINATE FAVOURED

LEAST FAVOURED


4 www.slough.gov.uk

LegislationEvery business, no matter what size has an impacton the environment. To ensure that this level ofimpact remains within acceptable limits, there is aneed to comply with environmental legislation.Environmental legislation covers areas relating toaspects such as packaging, hazardous waste,solvents, energy, air quality and waste fromconstruction and water.

Duty of Care The duty of care applies to anyone who producesor imports, keeps or stores, transports, treats ordisposes of waste. It also applies if you act as abroker and arrange these things. Not complyingwith the duty of care legislation can result in a fine.

When dealing with your own business waste, youmust:

1. Make sure your waste is stored safely andsecurely, so that it doesn’t escape from yourcontrol and contaminate or harm theenvironment.

2. Make sure that your waste contractor isauthorised to take and disposes of the wasteand is transported, recycled or disposed ofsafely. You are responsible for checking theyare registered, so always ask to see theircertificate.

3. Make sure if you use a waste contractor todispose of your waste, they provide you with adescription of the waste and a transfer note iscompleted and signed by both parties.

When collecting business waste from someone else,you must:

1. Make sure that the law allows you to take it(you should be a registered waste carrier,although there are some exceptions).

2. Make sure you have a description of the wasteand issue a transfer note completed andsigned by both parties.

(This requirement includes tradesmen such asbuilders, plumbers, electricians and gardeners, ifpart of the service they offer is to remove wastefrom a customer’s property.)

Pre-treatment of non-hazardouswasteAll non-hazardous waste must be ‘treated’ prior tolandfill. Examples of treatment include, sortingmaterials for recycling, biological treatment such ascomposting or thermal treatment such asincineration.

You can chose to sort the waste yourself (i.e.separate recyclables from residual waste) or, if yourwaste contractor offers the service, you can requestthat they sort it for you after they have collected it.

For information on how to apply for a wastecarrier’s licence, visit the www.environment-agency.gov.uk website.

To find your nearest registered waste carrieror waste treatment facility visit thewww.wastedirectory.org.uk website.


www.slough.gov.uk 5

How can you encourage your staff

to recycle more and use the correct

bins provided?

Waste packaging and producerresponsibilityWaste packaging and producer responsibility lawsrequire businesses to reuse, recover and recyclewaste which comes from products they produce.There is a range of producer responsibilitylegislation on waste that places both financial andlogistical responsibilities on businesses involved invarious sectors, such as electronic equipment,packaging, batteries and vehicle manufacturing.

These are important waste streams which need tobe reduced due to their impact on the environment.

The UK must meet its national targets for recoveryand recycling of these wastes set under EuropeanUnion (EU) Directives.

The systems for each waste stream are outlined:

• Packaging waste regulations

• WEEE regulations

• Batteries directive

• End of life vehicles (ELV’s)

Fact: The UK produces around 10 million tonnes ofpackaging waste every year, most of which isdisposed of in landfill sites. Packaging waste is asignificant part (7-10%) of the waste produced in theUK.

Packaging waste regulationsIf your business makes, fills, sells, handles orproduces packaging or packaging materials, youneed to be aware of the following:

• The Packaging (Essential Requirements)Regulations apply to you if your businessproducts, or places packaging or packagedgoods on the market.

• The Producer Responsibility Obligations(Packaging Waste) Regulations apply to you ifyour business handles more than 50 tonnes ofpackaging in a year and has a turnover of morethan £2 million.

• Packaging waste covers all types of materialsused for packaging such as paper, cardboard,various plastics and metal.

• You need to register with the EnvironmentAgency or a compliance scheme.

• You must provide evidence that you recover andrecycle a specified proportion of your waste.

• Fines can be imposed on businesses that do notcomply.

Remember: Good things come in small packages.On average, 16% of the money you spend on aproduct pays for the packaging, which ultimatelyends up as rubbish. Minimising the use or waste ofpackaging can deliver some quick savings.


6 www.slough.gov.uk

Waste Electrical and ElectronicEquipment Directive (WEEE)European legislation aims to reduce the amount ofWEEE being produced and encourages everyone toreuse, recycle or recover it.

Examples of WEEE include computer equipment,electric fans, electrical and electronic tools,telephones, microwaves and kettles.

Any business involved in manufacturing, selling,distributing, recycling or treating electrical andelectronic equipment should be aware that underthe WEEE directive, it is now illegal to dispose of thisat a landfill site.

There are certain requirements for WEEE relating to:

• Separate collection, disposal and recycling

• Standards for its treatment at authorised facilities

• Collection, recycling and recovery targets

Batteries directiveBatteries commonly contain hazardous elementssuch as mercury, cadmium, and lead, which whenincinerated or landfilled, present a risk to theenvironment and human health

The European Union Batteries directive regulationsrequire producers and importers of batteries,placing more than one tonne of batteries in a year,to become more responsible for battery recyclingand join an approved batteries compliance scheme,through which they must meet their waste batteryrecycling obligations.

The new requirements on collecting, treating andrecycling waste batteries and accumulators cameinto force and producers will have to pay for thecollection, treatment and recycling of batteries.

If you sell more than 32kg a year of portablebatteries in your store, over the internet, via mail-order or directly to businesses, you will need to takeback used batteries from the public free of charge.

To help you determine whether you supply 32kg ormore of portable batteries per year Defra hasdeveloped a simple calculator.

For more information on the Battery directive visitthe Environment Agency websitewww.environment-agancy.gov.uk or to viewcalculator visit the Defra website www.defra.gov.uk.

End of Life Vehicles (ELV’s) DirectiveThe End of Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive aims toreduce the amount of waste produced fromvehicles when they are scrapped. The End-of-LifeVehicles Regulations 2003 require operators to holda site license if accepting vehicles which have notbeen de-polluted and set new minimum technicalstandards for all sites that store or treat ELVs.

Around two million vehicles reach the end of theirlife in the UK each year. These vehicles are classedas hazardous waste until they have been fullytreated.

For more information on EVLs visit the EnvironmentAgency website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/regulation/31887


www.slough.gov.uk 7

Hazardous wasteSome types of waste are classified as hazardous, forexample:

The hazardous properties of these wastes can makethem harmful to the environment or human health.

The Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 places strictrequirements on companies that produce suchwaste, how it is stored, who is able to collect it,what must be done to dispose of it legally and italso outlines what records must be kept. You must:

• register your premises with the EnvironmentAgency (some premises are exempt if less than200kg of hazardous waste is produced within ayear).

• not mix hazardous waste with non-hazardouswaste and you should not mix different types ofhazardous waste.

• complete a hazardous waste consignment notewhen hazardous waste is removed from yourpremises.

• keep records of the hazardous waste youproduce. Generally, keeping the consignmentnote and the consignee return for three yearswill meet this requirement.

Medical waste (human and animal), infectiousclinical/surgical wastes, contaminated soils, heavymetals, and industrial wastes

Asbestos

Batteries

Electrical appliances,computer monitors

Fluorescent tubes

Mineral oils, fuel andother automotivefluids

Tyres

Plasterboard

Fridges, freezers, airconditioning units

Aerosols and gascanisters

P aints and solvents


8 www.slough.gov.uk

Landfill directiveThe Landfill Directive sets rigorous standards toreduce both our reliance on landfill and theenvironmental impact of wastes disposed of bylandfill. Tighter operational and infrastructurestandards limit the types and nature of waste thatwe can send to landfill and place greaterrestrictions on the location of landfill sites.

The key points are:

• Certain kinds of waste cannot be landfilled.

• Landfills are classified according to whether theycan accept hazardous, non-hazardous or inertwastes.

• Wastes can only be accepted at a landfill if theymeet the waste acceptance criteria (WAC) forthat class of landfill.

• Most wastes must be treated before you cansend them to landfill.

• There are formal processes for identifying andchecking wastes you must follow before wastescan be accepted at a landfill site.

Landfill taxLandfill tax was introduced to reduce the amountof waste sent to landfill. It is designed to encourageall of us to use more sustainable methods of wastedisposal in order to minimise our environmentalimpact.

Your business pays landfill tax as a part of yourcommercial waste disposal cost. Landfill tax, andtherefore the cost to you for waste disposal, is set toincrease annually from a base rate per tonne.

Please note: Recycling bring sites or householdwaste and recycling centers (where residents cantake their recycling) are NOT for use by commercialoperators and vehicle registration details may berecorded to regulate and enforce this.

By reducing, reusing and recycling morematerials, your business can reduce its landfilltax liability and reduce its impact on theenvironment.


www.slough.gov.uk 9

What do I need to do?Here are three steps to help you and your businessuse fewer resources more efficiently.

Step one: COMMIT

It is important to ensure that all individuals withinyour business are committed to improving profitsthrough better environmental performance, andthat everyone is made aware of this objective.

Step two: REVIEW YOUR WASTE

Reviewing the amount and type of waste that youproduce and the activities that produce it will helpyou to define an action plan and set targets toreduce, reuse and recycle. During this process youshould:

• Carry out a waste audit over a number of days toget a good representation of the types andquantity of waste

• Undertake a ‘walk-through’ to identify whatactivities generate different types and quantitiesof waste

• Examine current costs of your waste disposal andutility bills. This will help to inform your futuredecisions and will give you a baseline to measureyour improvements

Step three: DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN

With the information from the waste review youcan begin to list and prioritise target areas forimprovement:

• List all materials that could be targeted

• Brainstorm ideas to reduce, reuse and recycleeach material and bear in mind that reductionwill produce the greatest financial andenvironmental savings

• Set actions and assign responsibility

• Set reasonable targets

• Aim for some early successes

• Set a timeline for completion of actions

• Develop a system to monitor progress

Visit the www.envirowise.gov.uk website for simpletips and tools to help you with these steps.

Disposing and recycling of yourbusiness wasteIt is illegal to fly-tip or dispose of your businesswaste into household recycling or general domesticwaste bins, this includes bring sites and communityrecycling centres. Companies found doing so canincur substantial fines.

There are a few ways to dispose of your commercialwaste:

• Larger amounts of trade or commercial wastecan be taken to Chalvey Waste and RecyclingCentre, Spackmans Way, which has aweighbridge facility. There is a charge to disposeof your commercial waste, and will not beaccepted without a waste carriers licence or anexemption certificate.

• There are sites across the county that accepttrade waste. You can find your local registeredwaste carrier or waste treatment facility byvisiting the www.wastedirectory.org website.

If you are just getting started:

• Start off small, pick just a couple of ideasfrom this guide

• Involve all your employees in the planningand implementation stages

If you have already started, think about howyou can improve, e.g. are there items, whichyou could reuse instead of purchasing newmaterials?


10 www.slough.gov.uk

What is fly-tipping?Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste ontoland with no license to accept waste, and is acriminal activity that can cause serious pollution ofthe environment, may be a risk to human healthand the environment.

All kinds of waste are fly-tipped, the most commonbeing household waste. Other wastes that are fly-tipped include appliances like fridges and washingmachines, waste from building and demolitionwork, animal carcasses, vehicle parts and tyres.Hazardous wastes such as oil, asbestos sheetingand chemicals are also dumped illegally.

It is important to realise that it is also an offence toallow fly-tipping to occur on your land.

The Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act(CNEA)

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 imposesduties on certain landowners and occupiers to keepspecified land clear of litter and refuse. You must:

• Ensure you have adequate storage space for tradewaste, either inside the building or in an enclosedarea outside.

• Have litterbins outside your premises (byagreement with the council) if you are a take-away food shop and you should display noticesencouraging customers to use them.

Where to go for further informationand adviceEnvironment Agency

The Executive Non-departmental Public Body whichaims to protect and improve the environment, andto promote sustainable development.

Tel: 08708 506506Website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Envirowise

A free government-supported environmentalconsultation, advice, and documentation for UKbusinesses.

Tel: 0800 585794Website: www.envirowise.gov.uk

WRAP

WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme)works to help businesses and individuals reap thebenefits of reducing waste, develop sustainableproducts and use resources in an efficient way.

Tel: 0808 100 2040Website: www.wrap.gov.uk

NetRegs

Provides free environmental guidance for small andmedium-sized businesses in the UK. Offers help incomplying with environmental law and protectingthe environment.

Website: www.netregs.gov.uk

RecycleNow

Provides information and resources across manyaspects of recycling, with the aim of increasingrecycling by raising awareness and promotingresponsible waste.

Tel: 08456 003323Website: www.recyclenow.com

DEFRA

DEFRA (The Department for Environment, Food andRural Affairs) is the UK government departmentresponsible for policy and regulations on theenvironment, food and rural affairs.

Tel: 08459 335577Website: www.defra.gov.uk

Fly-tippers can be fined up to £50,000 inMagistrates’ Courts, face unlimited fines inhigher courts, as well as communitypunishment orders or prison sentences of upto 5 years.

1. Talk to your waste

contractor or council about

recycling collections

2. Ask before issuing bags,

disposable cutlery, or paper

serviettes

3. Stock loose items where

possible, avoid

over-packaged products

4. Purchase good-quality

durable equipment

5. Use concentrated cleaning

products in refillable

containers

6. Use reusable mugs and

glasses, not disposable

7. Reuse incoming packaging

and boxes for outgoing

deliveries

8. Use rechargeable batteries

and refillable printer

cartridges

9. Reuse envelopes and

convert scrap paper into

note books

10. Use email wherever possible

and always print

double-sided

Top 10 tips to

start saving money

If you would like assistance with the translation of the

information in this document, please ask an English

speaking person to request this by calling 01753 474027.

01753 474027

01753 474027

Aby uzyskać pomoc odnośnie tłumaczenia instrukcji zawartych w niniejszym dokumencie, należy zwrócić się do osoby mówiącej po angielsku, aby zadzwoniła w tej sprawie pod numer 01753 474027.

Haddii aad doonayso caawinaad ah in lagu turjibaano warbixinta dukumeentigaan ku qoran, fadlan weydiiso in qof ku hadla Inriis uu ku Waco 01753 474027 si uu kugu codsado.

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www.slough.gov.uk

This document can be made available on

audio tape, braille or in large print, and is

also available on the website where it

can easily be viewed in large print.

Designed and printed by Slough Borough Council | Cover145

Reduce waste, save money, think green!

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Reduce waste, save money, think green! › ... › a-buisness-guide-to-reducing-waste.pdf · 2020-06-16 · time. Boxes and packaging material may be used for people moving house,