James Evans MS is calling on the Welsh Government to reconsider their plans to legally require businesses to sort their waste for recycling.
From 6th April 2024, it will become law for all businesses, charities, and public sector organisations to separate their waste in the same way that households already do.
Whilst this has the best of intentions, the practicalities in the real world show it is much more difficult to implement in practice.
While James agrees with the principle of urging businesses to improve their recycling rates, mandating such an unworkable scheme is certainly not the answer.
James Evans MS said:
“Businesses have approached me with many concerns about how this will work in reality. All say this will increase costs and add time burden on staff. Some say they cannot store the various bins in their premises, others question the carbon footprint of multiple rubbish pick-ups for the different waste groups, others say sorting of food waste will be problematic for them and put their food hygiene certificates at risk.
“A major concern brought to me is that of controlling what customers/users put in the business bins. Is a business owner meant to stand over the waste bins in their premises to ensure that the public comply with the recycling arrangements? Theatres, charities, agricultural shows will be significantly impacted by this new law.
“It is disappointing to see that the Welsh Government is coming at this with a stick and not a carrot, not helping businesses transition over a longer period. Instead bringing this in with six months’ notice and expecting businesses to cope is just ludicrous.”
With recycling rates already high in Wales, many businesses are confused as to just why these regulations are being brought in. Many of the trade waste operatives already sort out recyclable materials from their trade waste collections.
Brian Strawford, Owner of Llynfi Holiday Park in Llangorse said:
“This is a poorly thought-out scheme that has not a hint of practicality about it. I cannot control what the holiday makers put in my bins and yet I am responsible for their contents. Am I supposed to stand over my bins 24 hours a day to ensure the holiday makers comply with the new law?”
Gary Davies from Beacons Construction said:
“We are all for recycling and helping the environment, but why change something that’s currently being done and working well? Our skips are collected by our Waste management company and all Recyclable material is separated at their depot to ensure that the least amount possible ends up on landfills, not only for environmental reasons but this also reduces their Landfill Tax costs.
“Under the new Legislation Multiple skips will be required at our yard and on-sites to separate materials at source (Some of these skips may not be full / depending on the project type) leading to additional costs and up to six additional journeys for transporting the skips. The Carbon emissions will increase which makes no sense!
“Escalating costs for businesses in the current climate is not helpful, the Welsh Government obviously hasn’t thought this through as all they needed to do is ensure that all waste management companies operate within same guidelines as ours.”
James Evans MS is holding two drop-in sessions for businesses to pop by to discuss this in more detail and hear the concerns of businesses. The first will be held at The Castle Hotel Brecon on Friday 8th March 2024 between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, the second drop-in is in The Pavilion, Llandrindod Wells on Monday 11th March between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.
