Scottish businesses not ready for recycling law change

Up to 99% of businesses in Scotland are unprepared for new waste regulations that come into force next January and could face substantial fines as a result, according to a study.


On January 1, 2014, Scottish firms will be required by law to take reasonable steps to ensure they separate out metal, plastic, glass, paper and card, while food businesses which produce over 50kg of food waste per week must present it for separate collection.

However research from waste management company BusinessWaste.co.uk has found that only a handful of companies have given the new rules any consideration at all, and even fewer have acted to change their recycling and waste management regime.

According to those companies surveyed, 23% of businesses knew the new regulations were on the way, 8% knew how the rules would apply to them in the new year, and just 1% had taken any action to prepare for the change

“With only a few weeks to go, businesses are going to have to act quickly,” a spokesperson for BusinessWaste.co.uk said.

“There’s going to be a lot of demand for new bins and waste demand services, and some unscrupulous operators are bound to put up their prices.”

Maxine Perella

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