FSB: Govt must do more to publicise new waste rules

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called on the Environment Agency to do more to publicise major changes to waste disposal laws, which come into force tomorrow (Tuesday).

Under the rules implementing the EU Landfill Directive, liquid waste will be banned from landfill and all landfill waste will have to be pre-treated.

The changes will have a profound effect on the UK’s 4.5 million small business owners, who will have the ultimate responsibility for what happens to their waste.

John Holbrow, FSB Environment Chairman, said:

“From tomorrow small businesses will have new obligations when it comes to their waste. We urge small businesses to ensure they are aware of the new rules and to contact their waste contractors.

“The FSB supports the environmental principles that have led to these changes. But it would be nothing less than a dereliction of duty for the Government to bring in these new laws without a sustained publicity campaign to ensure small businesses are aware of them.

“The Environment Agency must do more to let small businesses know what their obligations are. Putting information on a website is simply not enough. There must be widespread publicity otherwise small businesses could be punished for breaking laws they knew nothing about.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. Information about the EU Landfill Directive is available from the Environment Agency website: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/1745440/444663/landfill/1789720/?version=1&lang=_e.

2. The FSB is Britain’s biggest business organisation with over 210,000 members. It exists to protect and promote the interests of the self-employed, and all those who run their own business. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk.

Contacts:

For interviews with FSB Chief Spokesman Stephen Alambritis or other senior FSB personnel please contact the FSB Press Office.

FSB Press Office

Matthew Knowles: 020 7592 8113 / 07917 628991

Simon Briault: 020 7592 8128 / 07917 628998

Belinda Webb: 020 7592 8121 / 07825 125 695

For regional FSB contacts please go to www.fsb.org.uk/regions