January 18, 2024
We are a registered waste carrier and fully licensed by the Environment Agency
As a new year starts, new waste management legislation comes into effect. The measures were expected to be implemented in 2023, they have been delayed until this year (2024).
As a specialist in waste management in Brighton working with a growing clientele of commercial clients, it’s crucial that G&S Clearance keeps a finger on the pulse of all legislation related to waste management. This ensures we are following the latest Environmental Agency guidance and processes, and that we are in possession of the required permits for waste removals, disposal and recycling.
At the COP28 in Glasgow in 2021, UK government outlined plans to reduce waste and improve water, air and biodiversity in the Environment Act. In a recently published official blog addressing the implementation delays, the Minister for Nature, Rebecca Pow explained the government’s aims:
“We’re determined to transform the way we collect, recycle and reuse our waste materials so we eliminate all avoidable waste by 2050 in a way that works for households and consumers. That’s better for our environment.”
Read the full article here, “Coverage of update to extend producer responsibility scheme”.
Although consumer awareness about the importance of recycling is growing, it will take more than individual measures to achieve the required transition to a more sustainable economy. In order to address the recycling challenges, it is essential that the government provides regulation and guidance covering best practices and recycling targets, investment in recycling processes and facilities and consumer education.
Therefore, the following strategy is designed to not only bolster the government’s commitment to recycling and the creation of a circular economy, but also emphasizes the importance of shared responsibility between the state, business and the public.
1. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Producers will become responsible for there cyclability of their packaging, from the design to disposal, in order to reduce waste and damage to the environment caused by packaging. The introduction of this point has been further delayed to 2025.
In case your company is affected by EPR, further information about EPR obligations is provided in this government explanatory memorandum.
2. Single Use Plastic Tax
The introduction of financial penalties on the production and distribution of single use plastics is designed to encourage suppliers to pivot towards more sustainable packaging options.
3. Investment in Recycling Infrastructure
The government plans to invest in recycling infrastructure, modernizing waste sorting, expanding facilities and investing technology.
4. Investment in Recycling Infrastructure
Not an entirely new scheme (some of you will remember returning glass bottles back in the day!), this scheme hopes to encourage the return on cans and bottles for a small refund.
5. Investment in Recycling Infrastructure
The government has drawn up a long-term strategy aimed at maximising efficiency, minimising waste and encouraging a sustainable economy.
In conclusion, the government seems to have grasped the importance of working towards a more circular economy and that robust measures must be taken to minimise waste and maximise recycling. We believe that it is a collectively responsibility to try to save the planet. This is why G&S Clearance guarantees that100% of all items of waste that we remove will be recycled whenever possible and all waste is disposed of safely according to legislation at the appropriate waste management facility.
If you need to arrange for packaging waste management in Brighton, get in touch with G&S Clearance by emailing info@gsclearance.com. Alternatively, if you would like to know more about our full range of waste management services in Brighton and Hove, visit the website ww.gsclearance.co.uk/.
