The business has reported that “no support” has been given to the sector in achieving net zero and carbon neutral targets.
The company has claimed that there are “no grants available” to aid the waste industry with new regulations, such as mandatory soil testing measures. Axe Skip Hire stated he Environment Agency has “no guidelines, help or advice” about how these measures can be implemented.
‘Demoralising’
James Bostock, company director at Axe Skip Hire, said: “Never has it been so difficult or demoralising to run our business. With all the talk about recycling and helping the environment, the next government needs to start looking at grants to help with continuous, nit-picking, impractical red tape, tests and changes imposed on us – all of which are additional costs.
“The EA is becoming more and more difficult with regards to the waste, especially skip hire industry. If you are just a regular ‘man and a van’ all you need is a waste carrier’s licence.”
The company has also reported that it is no longer allowed to use red diesel, a cheaper fuel that is used by travelling fairs and rail transport, and instead must use normal diesel for its sorting vehicles despite the fact red diesel has a “lower impact on the environment”.
Mr Bostock added: “It’s like they [the government] are trying to squeeze out the small businesses altogether. Other sectors get grants or support to help the environment and keep them in existence when any new regulations are enforced on them. It’s about time the waste industry got the help it so obviously needs.”
Excellent concise article that just underlines the frustration and fear that skip operators feel in having to contend with endless Bureaucracy and constant pressure on margins.
Summed up the position of a skip company perfectly. Never has it been harder to operate a legitimate skip hire business. The industry is penalised by the fees and bureaucracy from the EA for running a compliant business.