Memorandum by the British Chambers of
Commerce (RC 6)
1. ABOUT THE
BRITISH CHAMBERS
OF COMMERCE
1.1. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)
is the national voice of local business; a national network of
quality-accredited Chambers of Commerce, uniquely positioned at
the heart of every business community in the UK. The BCC represents
100,000 businesses of all sizes across all sectors of the economy
who together employ over 5 million people.
2. BUSINESSES,
WASTE AND
ENERGY
2.1. In late 2006 the British Chambers of
Commerce conducted research into businesses' attitudes to energy
efficiency, within which issues such as waste collection and minimization
were included. 87% of businesses considered themselves energy
efficient or were considering becoming so (Energy Efficiency:
the Challenge for Government and Small Businesses, British Chambers
of Commerce, October 2006). Alongside an appreciation of the need
to be energy efficient and reduce waste, businesses also realize
that in many instances this can bring business benefits and savings.
3. FUNDING AND
THE POSSIBLE
IMPLICATIONS OF
VARIABLE CHARGING
3.1. Businesses believe that variable charging
for refuse collection would be an acceptable policy to implement,
provided that there were adequate recycling facilities near the
business. This would mean that businesses have real options over
how much waste they dispose of and by what means. Local Authorities
should ensure that their recycling points are open to businesses,
a situation that currently varies by Local Authority area.
3.2. With variable charging the cost, if
any, of recycling should be significantly less relative to the
cost of sending waste to landfill. Without this incentive, a real
step change in business behaviour will not happen as it will not
make financial sense. If there is variable charging then the majority
of businesses believe it would be fairer to charge more where
a business is producing a great deal of waste and not recycling
or minimising.
3.3. For many businesses, there is a more
immediate issue relating to charges as many already have to pay
for refuse collection on top of what they already pay in business
rates. Businesses are having to fund refuse collection where domestic
customers do not, a situation that is seen as being intrinsically
unfair. In some areas they have to pay extra to the Local Authority
for refuse collection, in others private providers are used.
3.4. One business responding to the inquiry
outlined how they use a private skip company for all the waste
that cannot be recycled. The skip is emptied once a month at a
lower cost than using the paid-for service offered by the District
Council. Variable charging is already operational by virtue of
having a market in refuse collection and it is hard to see how,
without introducing extensive bureaucracy, refuse collection could
be organized in such a way that variable charging could be implemented
on a consistent basis across the existing market.
4. POSSIBLE IMPACTS
OF CHARGING
ON WASTE
MINIMISATION
4.1. With any variable charges, there are
the challenges posed by fly-tipping. It would be businesses or
individuals who are most likely to produce large quantities of
waste who would be most likely to fly-tip. This indicates that
other approaches which look at changing behaviour as well as those
which hinge on financial penalties must be introduced. As well
as the environmental degradation caused by fly-tipping, there
have been instances where, for example, old tyres have been fly-tipped
on businesses' premises and they have then had to pay for the
removal of those tyres.
4.2. However, for the majority of businesses
who do see the need and value of being energy efficient, variable
charging is likely to encourage them to recycle more and produce
less waste overall.
5. CONTRIBUTION
OF COLLECTION
METHODS AND
TECHNOLOGIES TO
MINIMISING WASTE
5.1. Provision of separate bins can help
encourage effective recycling but from businesses' perspective
in terms of time and space, the easiest option is to allow recyclable
materials to be disposed of in one bin and separation then take
place after collection.
5.2. Most businesses already recycle some
of their waste but some refuse collection providers do not currently
provide a recycling programme. Where businesses do not then take
recyclable material to the allocated sites, more refuse than necessary
is sent to landfill. Providing a collection service can help incentivise
a business to recycle and Local Authorities should look at working
with businesses and waste collection companies to develop recycling
programmes. This must certainly be done before any variable charging
is introduced so that businesses have options.
5.3. As well as looking at how collection
methods and technologies can minimize waste and promote recycling,
the other end of the process needs to be overhauled: packaging
of goods. There have been some developments, but metal or oil-based
packaging such as polystyrene are still widely used, many of which
cannot be recycled or only at great expense.
6. THE ROLE
OF INFORMATION
CAMPAIGNS
6.1. Information campaigns, backed up by
best practice examples and support, certainly have an important
role to play in encouraging businesses to reduce waste and recycle
more. Campaigns should include clear directions on how and where
businesses can recycle.
7. HOW DECISIONS
TAKEN BY
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
ABOUT COLLECTION
AND DISPOSAL
METHODS HELP
OR HINDER
FUTURE COLLECTION
METHODS AND
WASTE MINIMISATION
7.1. Where Local Authorities themselves
offer trade waste/commercial refuse collection services, they
need to become more proactive in promoting environmentally friendly
systems to encourage waste reduction and recycling. The notion
of "trade waste" as a single type of waste that is sent
to landfill should be reconsidered and a critical think given
to what elements might be recycled.
7.2. As outlined above, Local Authorities
should allow businesses to use their recycling points to encourage
them to recycle more and businesses should not be charged for
using them. Alternatively, both businesses and residential users
should be charged, but only if and when charges are introduced
for refuse collection. If charges for recycling points are introduced,
then they should be at a lower rate relative to waste for landfill.
The benefits of recycling are likely to outweigh the costs of
getting waste to the recycling point.
7.3. Local Authorities could also help waste
minimization by giving businesses some of their rates back if
they recycle a lot or minimize waste. Alternatively, businesses
could be rewarded by not having to pay additional charges for
having their refuse collected.
7.4. The take-up of systems to help minimize
waste, such as cardboard compactors, could be encouraged by Local
Authorities, either through subsidies and grant schemes or, given
constraints on funding, by working with partners to help negotiate
discounts for businesses.
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