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Now Britain's Businesses Must Recycle Too

23rd October 2007

Millions of us recycle at home and now we'll have to do it at work too!

In October this year, new regulations will be introduced that will mean firms from corner shops to factories will have to recycle their waste – just like we do at home.

Under the pre-treatment requirements of the Landfill Directive, all commercial and industrial waste disposed of at landfill after 30 October this year must first be pre-treated.

What this means is that waste must undergo a physical, thermal or biological process that changes its characteristics and reduces its mass or hazardous nature, facilitates its handling or enhances its recovery. Put simply, companies will have to start segregating their waste for recycling or relying on their waste management company to do it for them.

For most businesses, this will mean separate containers for recyclable waste, just like many households across the country. The alternative is to continue throwing their waste into one container for it to be segregated in a recycling facility.

Some companies already recycle but for the majority of businesses that don't, Biffa will be helping to make sure they meet their obligations.

Biffa recycling manager, Phil Conran said, "By the end of October, we will have a national collection service for cardboard and extensive coverage for both glass and office paper, which we are expanding as rapidly as possible. We also have the ability to deal with mixed waste to which no treatment has been applied, by disposing of this through sorting facilities."

"We will ensure that every one of our customers is compliant with these new requirements through either route."