MERSEYSIDE businesses are to get extra help to reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill.
The Environment Agency and Liverpool City Council have launched a campaign to advise businesses across Merseyside on the economic and environmental benefits of reducing, recycling and re-using their waste.
Every year- over 480,000 tonnes of waste are sent to landfill by businesses on Merseyside, costing over £48m.
It is estimated that 100,000 tonnes is readily recyclable and a further 300,000 tonnes of this could by recycled if materials were separated at source.
This would not only help to protect our environment, but could also dramatically reduce the operating costs of a business.
The Make Waste Your Business campaign will inform and educate business owners on ways they could better manage their waste, as well as making sure they understand the environmental legislation which they need to comply with.
“In the current economic climate, businesses are always looking for ways to remain competitive,” says Nick Hopwood, Environment Manager for the Environment Agency.
“By looking at how much waste they produce, and how this is disposed of, businesses could identify waste efficiencies.
“The Make Waste Your Business projectŠ offers education and advice on commercial waste recycling and disposal for local businesses.
“By combining this with links to other sources of information, we hope to empower businesses to make informed choices about their waste management practices. I really hope that business organisations in Liverpool will take advantage of this opportunity in Year of the Environment.”
One of the businesses taking part in the campaign is Littlewoods Shop Direct, based in Speke.
The company Šachieved the Carbon Trust Standard in 2008 by reducing CO² by 4,700 tonnes, saving £750,000 over the last two years alone. They have reduced power consumption at their Speke headquarters by 32%, and have 15% overall reduction target for 22 UK sites by the end of 2009.
Their Speke HQ recycled 98% of materials received. This included 1.5 tonnes of cardboard, 6 tonnes of paper 100kgs of plastic, 200kgs of metals, 940kgs of general waste. The campaign is part of the Year of the Environment programme.
By showing good environmental awareness, businesses can gain an advantage over their competitors, as the role of the business community as responsible, environmentally aware members of society is becoming increasingly important.
TO FIND out more, see www. environment-agency.gov.uk
