The warning came as Keith Harper, Biffa's marketing manager when he launched Biffa's latest publication to encourage businesses to recycle, at the Recycling and Waste Management exhibition this week.
Mr Harper said that businesses can't escape the green agenda and said that the writing is on the wall for them if they don't tackle the amount of waste that they produce. He said: “It could be more expensive to do nothing than to take positive action now.”
“Biffa Recycling – inspiration for business”, has been produced to inform businesses about the different types of waste that can be recycled. The booklet has been produced in light of forthcoming environmental legislation and the increasing cost of landfill which is expected to exceed 55 per tonne by the end of the decade.
Mr Harper said that attitudes have to change or companies will face prosecution. “Producer responsibility for packaging, electrical equipment, cars and batteries is here or coming fast and all companies will have to understand their responsibilities and deal with a waste company that can ensure they meet their liabilities. ”
The booklet contains information about recycling a wide variety of products including items which are more difficult to recycle such as toner cartridges, electronic equipment, fluorescent lamps, mobile phones and batteries. It also includes contact details for organisations involved in recycling to help companies find out where to start.
Mr Harper said: “Last year Biffa diverted over 600,000 tonnes of waste from landfill to recycling. It could be more but it's not always clear what recycling services are available or how to deal with deal with different recyclable waste streams. It's clear that businesses need to be encouraged to talk seriously about recycling, but they need to know what options are available to them and who can help. Our publication seeks to point them in the right direction.”
He added: “There is a real business case to recycle more. By the end of the decade the cost of landfill is expected to exceed 55 per tonne. Coupled with increasingly strict environmental legislation and greater public awareness of sustainability issues the writing is on the wall for businesses of every kind. It could actually be more expensive to do nothing than to take positive action now.”
“Biffa Recycling – Inspiration for Business” is available from: Biffa's website
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