Waste is everybody's business
A closer look at the reasons why reducing, reusing and recycling waste
applies to all businesses, including yours...
The 3R's and waste, what is it that all about and why does it affect my business? You may well ask but over 1300 businesses in Perth and Kinross have already realised what it means to them.
Waste management has a new mantra; Reduce, Reuse Recycle. Many businesses are already using our waste and recycling services and taking advice from our commercial waste sales, waste minimisation or waste awareness officers. The tonnages speak for themselves with over 4,200 tonnes of recyclates collected in 2004 from Perth and Kinross businesses.
Wide ranging waste awareness campaigns for business and household waste have had a positive effect on peoples routines encouraging them to deal with their waste more responsibly. With the help of Scottish Waste Awareness Group we have pioneered the way with awareness of waste and recycling services to business in Scotland and are seen as an example of best practice to other local authority areas.
The 3R's are based on the waste hierarchy and the realisation that the way in which we currently deal with our waste is unsustainable. We cannot continue to dispose of the volume of waste that we currently landfill. It just doesn't make environmental or financial sense.
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Prioritising the options for dealing with waste - The Waste Hierarchy
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Recently the Environment Minister, Ross Finnie, launched the Scottish Executive consultation on the Sustainable management of waste from business and public sector organisations in Scotland stating "Waste is not just an environmental issue, it is a business issue too. Business can increase profits by as much as £1000 per employee by introducing a systematic waste minimisation programme." He went on to add, "The producer pays principle dictates that businesses are responsible for the waste they produce. With the cost of disposing of waste rising it makes sound business sense to consider minimising waste at source and to recycle."
Perth and Kinross businesses have embraced the 3R mantra but still many businesses are concerned about dealing with their waste, we are listening to these concerns and are developing our service accordingly.
| "Waste is not a high priority in my business" |
Waste is important to all businesses. Duty of care, waste legislation, increasing landfill tax as well as greater environmental awareness means that all businesses need to realise the benefit of reprioritising waste in the day to day management of their companies, it makes good business sense.
| Definition: Duty of care is a part of law that says your business must take reasonable steps to keep waste safe. If you give waste to someone else to dispose of you must be sure that they are authorised to take it, transport it and reprocess or dispose of it safely. This applies to all waste even if it is not toxic or hazardous. Failure to comply with the Duty of Care is an offence and can result in fines. |
| "I have no time or storage space" |
We can come and visit you at your business, assess your business needs in one short no-obligation visit and offer you a flexible range of uplifts to suit capacity. We can offer sacks and labels in addition to the more traditional bin systems for the management of waste and
recyclates.
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