Firms urged to cut waste

Ministers have today urged businesses to take action on minimising waste.

Local environmental quality minister Ben Bradshaw said with the pressure on the environment increasing and climate change a real threat it was up to firms to reduce their wastage and better manage the waste they do produce.

Bradshaw's comments came as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched a programme of pilot studies, business support services and research to help firms deal effectively with waste.

Among the new measures are a central support service for local authorities to disseminate best practice of providing advice for local businesses, an online waste 'hub' certificate and training for small business managers and the coaching of catering staff on compost production using kitchen waste.

Extra funding has also been confirmed for the Carbon Trust, Envirowise, the Waste and Resources Action Programme, Environment Agency, National Industrial Symbiosis Programme and the Market Transformation Programme,

"The days of dig and dump are over. Businesses must get smarter in how they handle their waste," Bradshaw said.

"The impacts of our everyday consumption patterns on the environment remain severe. The inefficient use of resources can also affect business competitiveness - including small businesses".

"We need to see a revolution in smarter design of products so they are less wasteful and are easier to recycle, we need to see more businesses being more creative with what they do about their waste, and ultimately eliminating a lot of it completely. It's about doing more with less."

According to government figures, for every tonne of household waste currently produced, a further ten tonnes of commercial and industrial waste is generated. Defra modelling suggests that commercial waste is likely to grow from 2002 levels by 13% by 2010, 33% by 2015 and 52% by 2020.

The Landfill Tax, currently £18 per tonne, will rise to £21 per tonne from April 2006.