SMEs offered free advice on hazardous waste

Organisers of a project providing free advice to small businesses on how to reduce their hazardous waste production - and save money - is looking for firms to sign up to the scheme.


The HAZRED scheme, which is administered by the Environment Agency, has now appointed 12 specialist advisors who will work with 120 companies across six sectors which each have particular problems with hazardous waste.

Companies from each of the sectors are now being invited to take advantage of the scheme, which received funding from the EU’s LIFE budget last July (see related story).

HAZRED is designed to demonstrate the benefits of setting hazardous waste reduction targets and developing waste reduction plans in partnership with those industry sectors most in need.

The six sectors are treatment and coating of metals, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles, companies using or producing speciality organic chemicals, general construction and building, photographic processing and the manufacture of machinery and equipment.

For those companies who do not receive the services of the specialists, plans have been drawn up for each of the sectors offering advice on how to set targets to reduce hazardous waste and, more importantly, how to meet them.

“The introduction of the Hazardous Waste Regulations last year resulted in many small businesses being challenged with tackling the complexities of hazardous waste for the first time”, says HAZRED project manager Gill Ross-Jones.

“But businesses can still access free, confidential help to tackle the demands of this legislation by joining HAZRED – as well as saving money through the establishment of a strong and systematic programme of waste management.”

Businesses interested in the project or wanting to register interest in taking part can find out more by visiting its website.

Sam Bond

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