FSB: Waste Review must resolve lack of SME access to waste and recycling services once and for all

Waste Review must resolve lack of SME access to waste and recycling services once and for all

FSB research shows that nine in 10 businesses would recycle more if they had access to better facilities

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is calling on the Government to ensure that it has the needs of small businesses at the heart of its Waste Review due next week, as data from the ‘Voice of Small Business’ survey panel shows that 95 per cent of firms would recycle more if they had access to services.

Small firms know that minimising waste makes business sense as well as benefiting the environment. Research has shown that when materials, energy and labour as well as disposal costs are included, a business could be spending up to four per cent of its turnover disposing of waste.

However, small businesses find it extremely difficult to access suitable waste and recycling services as many local authorities do not offer these services to businesses. And due to the small volumes of waste they produce, small firms cannot attract the services of waste management companies, either.

Further to this, the FSB believes the Landfill Trading Allowance Scheme distorts the market for SME waste and recycling services and allows waste management companies to charge inflated prices for their services.

In a new report, ‘The waste review – the small business case’, the FSB highlights some simple steps the Government can take to resolve small businesses’ lack of access to suitable waste and recycling services and infrastructure.

The FSB is calling on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to:

· Allow small businesses to use Household Waste and Recycling Centres in their areas as this could be implemented quickly and would provide small firms with greater access to waste and recycling services

· Use the planning system to ensure there is adequate storage space in new and refurbished commercial premises for storing waste

· Work with local authorities to help change negative public perceptions of locating waste and recycling facilities in their areas

· Reform the duty of care regulations for small firms that produce very small quantities of waste

David Caro, Environment Committee Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, said:

“Small businesses are keen to do their bit for the environment but need to have access to the right facilities available locally. Many small firms produce a similar amount of waste to that of a household, yet they cannot use the same facilities and often find that they are at the mercy of an uncompetitive waste and recycling market.

“Giving small firms access to household waste and recycling centres would be a quick win that would make the lives of so many small businesses easier when it comes to managing their waste responsibly.

“While it is right to regulate how businesses handle their waste, firms that produce very small amounts are still subject to the same red tape as larger businesses and so reforming the duty of care regulation for very small firms would be a step in the right direction.”

Notes to Editors

The FSB is the UK's leading business organisation with over 205,000 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

The survey is based on 1,668 responses from the November FSB ‘Voice of Small Business’ Survey Panel of FSB members which took place between 2 and 12 November 2010. For full results, go to www.fsb.org.uk/fsb-survey-panel

3. Envirowise figures (2007): While a business will spend a certain amount of time and money per week disposing of their waste, when the materials, the wasted energy and wasted labour are also considered, the real price tag of waste management is often five to 20 times higher than simply the cost of disposal, typically four per cent of the turnover of a business

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Contacts
Andrew Cave, Chief Spokesperson: 07917 628991
Sophie Kummer: 020 7592 8128/ 07917 628998 sophie.kummer@fsb.org.uk
Prue Watson: 020 7592 8121 / 07825 125 695 prue.watson@fsb.org.uk
Sara Lee: 020 7592 8113/ 07595 067068 sara.lee@fsb.org.uk

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