A local recycling firm believes that an alarming number of the region’s businesses are unaware that they could be liable to £300 Fixed Penalty Notices under new powers implemented by the Environmental Agency (EA).
From 2 April 2007 the Environment Agency announced that they would begin implementing their powers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for certain environmental offences under the Hazardous Waste Regulations and enabled by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.
Julia Ingleson, of Attleborough based, hazardous electrical waste disposal company Recyclite warned all organisations to check whether they need to register:
“There are a number of exemptions but, if a premises is producing hazardous waste, and most premises dispose of some fluorescent tubes and at least a computer monitor or two every year, they need to find out if they should be registered. If they don’t register and they are over the limit, they face a prosecution or an on-the-spot fine from the Environment Agency.”
Recyclite say that they regularly contact businesses in East Anglia and discover that they are totally unaware of the rules surround the Hazardous Waste Regulations that came into force in July 2005. “A frighteningly high percentage just do not know that they are producing waste containing hazardous properties,” Ingleson says, “nor that they have to comply with the requirements of the Hazardous Waste Regulations regarding disposal of items such as redundant computer equipment, fluorescent lamps, and electrical appliances.”
Ingleson says that with the implementation of the new Fixed Penalty Notices the Environment Agency are now carrying out spot checks, and are getting tough with those flouting the disposal laws on hazardous waste management.
This view is confirmed by the Environment Agency, which commented, “If a producer is behaving irresponsibly with regards to their waste, or refuses to register once they have been made aware of the regulations, then we have a number of enforcement options which include issuing an FPN or taking other legal action against the offender.”
It is also, Ingleson advises, the responsibility of the waste producer to ensure that the likes of fluorescent tubes and computer equipment are disposed of correctly, or removed from their premises by an authorised waste carrier and a Hazardous Waste Consignment Note obtained.
To check if you are exempt, please contact the Environment Agency on 0870 8506506. Recyclite can be contacted on 0800 3585440