Environment Minister decides against mandatory recycling laws for business

The government has ruled out introducing a mandatory recycling laws for businesses, preferring to promote voluntary schemes to encourage businesses to recycle their waste.

Speaking at a recent visit to a recycling plant in the North East of England, Environment Minister Lord Henley said that while it was critically important that businesses play their part in recycling, they should be “encouraged to do the right thing” rather than “tied down or penalised with excessive rules and regulations”.

He added: “As householders we all spend a lot of time trying to do the right thing with our waste and recycling, and rightly so. It is equally important that businesses – both large and small – do the same. Twice as much waste comes from commerce and industry as from all households put together.”

Lord Henley cited some existing voluntary agreements – such as the Courtauld Commitment on grocery retail packaging and food waste – as a models for the government's future approach.

He said that a number of sectors were under consideration for possible voluntary responsibility deals in the future, and that there would be close cooperation and active partnership with the businesses and sectors concerned in developing the deals.

“We see responsibility deals as an important part of drive towards a zero waste economy, and I hope that businesses will come forward with ideas and proposals for actions we can work together on.”

Lord Henley's comment follow the announcement last month of a review of waste policy to look at what policies are needed to reduce the amount of waste generated and to maximise reuse and recycling, while also considering the impact of waste policies on local communities and individual households and businesses. The report is due in Spring 2011.