Waste companies warned against pouring money down the drain
COMPANIES servicing the waste sector across the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership area have been warned about the risks of not complying with current legislation.
Latest figures show the industry paid out more than £1.7m in fines last year with the average fine for businesses prosecuted for failing to comply with legislation being £6,855.
The issue was one of the topics addressed at the Marches Environmental Technologies Network conference, which took place in Ludlow.
The event included a workshop which gave companies a comprehensive update on rules surrounding waste permits, as well as a presentation highlighting innovations in the waste sector.
Mandy Stoker, chairwoman of metnet in Shropshire and director of Shrewsbury-based consultancy e4environment, gave businesses an overview of the permits available as well as practical advice for completing the relevant application forms and how to avoid pitfalls.
Mrs Stoker said: “Waste generation in the UK can be divided into three main sectors of construction and demolition; commercial and industrial and local authority collected waste.
“The waste sector is growing nationally with more than 100 companies operating within in the Marches. Intelligent management of waste is often overlooked, but it often reduces costs and ensures compliance with legislation.
“Both the UK Government and the EU place waste issues high up on the environmental agenda. Waste collection, handling, and disposal will be subject to significant increases in costs and tighter regulatory controls over the next few years. It is vital that companies across the Marches region are aware of current legislation if they are not to fall foul of the law.”
Latest figures from the Environment Agency show that 335 companies were prosecuted in relation to illegal waste activity in 2011. The highest fine handed out by the courts was £17,000 and 16 cases resulted in a custodial sentence.
The metnet conference, at Ludlow Racecourse, also heard from leading speaker on waste and recycling Nia Owen, of AEA Technology, an energy and climate change consultancy. The presentation focused on current innovations and opportunities within the waste sector.
The metnet conference also gave delegates a chance to hear about business opportunities presented by the Green Deal, and a chance to learn how to improve their business networking skills with a keynote presentation with networker and business coach, Kevin Parr.
Dr Robin Mannings, a futurologist, spoke about what is on the horizon for the environmental sector and the impacts these innovations and changes will have on the businesses and people which work within it.
Funded by the ERDF, metnet is a partnership between Herefordshire Council, Shropshire Council, Telford and Wrekin Council and Worcestershire County Council administered by Shropshire Council.
