As Welsh Business confidence drops to the lowest in the UK, James Evans MS has heard first-hand about the pressures facing businesses because of unworkable Welsh Labour policies.
With business rates relief set to be cut from 75% to 40%, the crushing 182-day occupancy rule for holiday lets, impending tourism tax and the new workplace recycling regulations – Welsh businesses are increasingly feeling like there is an uneven playing field compared their counterparts in England.
Ahead of the new workplace recycling regulations coming into force on 6th April, James recently held two drop-in sessions, one in Brecon and the other in Llandrindod Wells, to hear the effect this will have on already struggling businesses. The message from everyone was that the new law will be unworkable and that businesses will bear significant costs.
The only exemption to the new laws will be the NHS. Schools, colleges, hospitality, holiday lets, and even builders will all be required to sort out their waste in the same way households already do.
James Evans MS said:
“The businesses I have spoken to are all worried 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.”
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.”
