Business Legislation

Susan Love, Policy Manager at the Federation of Small Businesses
Smallest businesses should be exempt from Scottish DRS, says FSB

Concerns over how Scotland’s deposit return scheme (DRS) will affect small businesses were raised at a roundtable of industry experts yesterday (12 November), with the Federation of Small Businesses calling for an exemption for businesses whose premises are under 200 square feet in size.


A workshop hosted by EucoLight in Brussels
New study highlights ‘truly shocking’ extent of WEEE non-compliance

A high number of WEEE products sold through online marketplaces are non-compliant with regulations, according to a study by EucoLight. 

Andy Garside, Group Technical Waste Manager at Adler and Allan
Navigating waste regulations for businesses

Are you disposing of your business’ waste compliantly? Andy Garside, Group Technical Waste Manager at environmental risk reduction company Adler and Allan, discusses the impact that non-compliant waste management can have on businesses.

An image of plastic bottles
British Plastics Federation survey reveals Brexit impact fears
By
Imogen Benson
| 4 November 2019 |
The leading trade association for the UK plastics industry has published a survey revealing that a majority of its members want to remain in the EU and believe that a no-deal Brexit will have a significant impact on their businesses.
An image of a traffic cone
Waste sector one of the most dangerous in the UK, says HSE
By
Imogen Benson
| 31 October 2019 |
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its annual workplace ill health and injury statistics, revealing 4.5 per cent of waste workers suffered from work-related ill health in 2018/19.
A screengrab of Theresa Villiers in Parliament
Villiers hopes Environment Bill will survive election
By
Imogen Benson
| 30 October 2019 |
Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers expressed her desire to see the Environment Bill continue its passage through Parliament despite the forthcoming general election.
An image of illegally dumped waste
Illegal waste activity on the rise, says EA report
By
Imogen Benson
| 25 October 2019 |
The Environment Agency (EA) has published its annual Regulating for People, Environment and Growth (RPEG) report. 
The Houses of Parliament
MPs cast doubt on independence of new environmental watchdog
By
Imogen Benson
| 24 October 2019 |
The Environmental Audit Committee has written to Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers stating that some aspects of the government’s Environment Bill are ‘not fit for purpose’.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Defra holding ‘Brexit ready’ events for waste businesses
By
Imogen Benson
| 15 October 2019 |
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is holding a series of workshops to help import and export waste business prepare for Brexit.
Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers
Environment Bill leads UK-wide green transformation, says Villiers
By
Imogen Benson
| 15 October 2019 |
The government’s Environment Bill has been introduced to Parliament today (15 October), amid prevailing scepticism over the likelihood of the Bill being passed.
The Queen addressing Parliament at the state opening of Parliament.
Queen’s Speech: Environment Bill welcomed but industry demands more
By
Rob Cole
| 14 October 2019 |
The government has laid out its legislative plans for waste and recycling in the coming Parliament in today’s (14 October) Queen’s Speech, including extended producer responsibility (EPR) and a deposit return scheme (DRS).
An image of some waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
Recycling business ordered to pay £50k for breaching WEEE regulations
By
Imogen Benson
| 27 September 2019 |
A former Northumberland-based recycling business and its director have been ordered to pay £54,365 in fines after being found guilty of breaching waste regulations. 
An image of Hannah Blythyn announcing the consultation in the Welsh Assembly
Welsh Government launches consultation on business recycling
By
Imogen Benson
| 25 September 2019 |
The Welsh Government has announced that it will be launching a consultation on how to increase business recycling in Wales, with a view to implementing regulatory changes in October 2021.
Anna McMorrin, Labour MP for Cardiff North
The system must change: An interview with Anna McMorrin
By Resource |
16 September 2019 |
MP since 2017, Anna McMorrin joined Parliament with a drive to tackle the UK’s environmental issues, hitting out against single-use plastic waste and tabling a bill on extended producer responsibility for packaging. Resource finds out more 
An image of a charity clothing bank
New accreditation standard for textile recyclers trading with charity shops
By
Imogen Benson
| 9 September 2019 |
A new accreditation standard, TRUST (Trader Recycling Universal Standard), has been established for recyclers who trade with charity shops, to ensure that collectors meet health and safety, legal and environmental guidelines. 
View from the conveyor belt at Sheehan C&D waste recycling plant
Resources Sector Deal could ‘unlock potential’ of industry
By
Kate Dickinson
| 15 August 2019 |
The UK Resources Council is asking for input from across the resources and waste industry as it develops its proposal for a ‘Sector Deal’ between the UK resources sector and the government.
Rick Hindley, Executive Director of Alupro
DRS: A whole can of worms
By
Rick Hindley
| 26 July 2019 |
Rick Hindley, Executive Director of Alupro, the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation, gets his teeth into the issues surrounding deposit return schemes and their impact on aluminium can recycling.
Defra sign
Government responds to resources and waste consultations
By
Kate Dickinson
Rob Cole
| 24 July 2019 |
Defra’s response to the resources and waste consultations confirm that big changes will be on the cards for 2023, with a deposit return scheme, extended producer responsibility regime and consistency of collections all proposed for introduction by then.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove
‘All-in’ deposit return scheme has Gove’s support
By
Kate Dickinson
| 17 July 2019 |
Environment Secretary Michael Gove has put his weight behind an ‘all-in’ DRS for drinks containers as part of a speech on the need to act on climate change, pollution and natural degradation.
An image of a health and safety traffic cone
Waste sector fatalities 17 times higher than industry average
By
Imogen Benson
| 8 July 2019 |
New figures from the Health and Safety Executive reveal that although the number of waste and recycling workplace fatalities has dropped to seven from last year’s 12, the sector remains one of the most dangerous industries to work in.
No PRN compliance fee before 2020, says ACP
No PRN compliance fee before 2020, says ACP
By
Rob Cole
| 24 June 2019 |
The Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP) has stated that some form of packaging compliance fee could be introduced in 2020, but that the tight legislative timetable would preclude its introduction in 2019.
Image of clothing in a landfill
EAC proposals to tackle fast fashion rejected by government
By
Kate Dickinson
| 18 June 2019 |
The government has rejected proposals for a one pence tax on clothing to fund the collection, recycling and reuse of textiles as it continues to support voluntary commitments over legislative action.
Recycled content: Let's talk about tax
Recycled content: Let's talk about tax
By
Rob Cole
| 18 June 2019 |
Domestic markets for recycled plastics are struggling to take hold, with policy-makers scratching their heads over how to stimulate demand. Rob Cole examines the government’s proposed 'plastics tax' and asks whether it will achieve its desired outcome