(L-R): Iain Gulland, Director of Zero Waste Scotland with Calum Carmichael and Joe Dick of the Hanging Bat

A third of Scottish businesses are ‘unaware’ of the new Waste (Scotland) Regulations, which come into force from the 1 January 2014.

According to a new survey commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland, 34 per cent of the 500 Scottish business surveyed knew nothing about the new law surrounding waste practices.

Under the law, from January 2014, all businesses will be required to separate plastic, glass, metal, paper and card for recycling. Most food businesses will also be required to separate their food waste. Anyone not complying could face a maximum fine of £10,000.

However, of the 66 per cent of businesses that did know about the regulations, 92 per cent said they were ‘confident’ they would be legally compliant. Seventy per cent added that they understood the effects the regulations will have on their business.

It is hoped the new law will help Scotland achieve its target of recycling 70 per cent of its waste, while sending just five per cent of its waste to landfill, by 2025.

‘Waste in a valuable resource’

Speaking of the figures today (12 December), Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “The Waste (Scotland) Regulations represent a major step in delivering our vision of a zero waste Scotland.

“When properly managed waste is a valuable resource, delivering both financial and environmental benefits for all of us. These important regulations will help bring about a profound and frankly long-overdue change in how we regard and manage the waste that we all produce.

“The Scottish business community has a vital role to play if Scotland is to meet its zero waste ambitions and it is pleasing to note that so many have already taken steps to ensure that they will be legally compliant from January 2014.

“It’s important that we all play our part to reduce waste and recycle more and I would encourage all businesses across Scotland to make themselves aware of their obligations under these regulations.”

Director of Zero Waste Scotland, Iain Gulland, added that it was ‘good to see’ that most businesses are ready for the new regulations, but warned that there’s “still a job to do to ensure that all firms comply with the changes”.

He continued: “There has been a collective effort from councils and waste management companies, working with ourselves and SEPA [the Scottish Environment Protection Agency], to get the message out – but we need to keep up the momentum and help businesses to recycle more and ultimately reduce waste.”

Hanging Bat café

Gulland made the comments earlier today whilst visiting a microbrewery and beer café in Edinburgh that has already implemented the required separate collection of recyclable materials.

As well as separating materials for recycling, the Hanging Bat has reportedly begun using compostable packaging that can be processed along with food waste.

Gulland praised the business’s efforts, saying: “The example of The Hanging Bat shows how a small, busy business can make simple changes to put in recycling measures and by doing so reduce its waste to landfill by a massive 90 per cent.”

Online support for businesses wanting to learn more about how the new regulations will affect them can be found online, along with a rural postcode finder to help food businesses determine whether they are exempt from the requirement to separately sort food waste.

Read more about the new Waste (Scotland) Regulations.