It’s often a touchy subject – we all want to recycle and save the environment, we all want to put our best foot forward, but we haven’t found the right way to do it yet. Sometimes it seems like too much of a hassle, at other times it doesn’t seem like it will make a difference. The facts are, however, that a business which recycles grows in many more ways than one, and the benefits are experienced very shortly after a little effort is made. For those who are still in doubt about recycling and haven’t quite got around to implementing the perfect system; don’t worry, we’ll get you there. Here are your legal and environmental responsibilities for recycling, and tips on how to do it properly.

Start by saving money

Yes, it shouldn’t all be about the environment (although that is, of course, the overriding philosophy). But the fact is: you can save money. There are plenty of companies that would be willing to pick up your paper and cardboard for free. There are plenty of companies that would gladly accept the excess metal you have stored in your storage area. They may even pay you money for it. The point is that a good recycling process helps you save money, and may even compensate you along the way. It’s a smart idea from a financial point of view as well.

Your legal responsibility

You want to be able to tell everyone that you are meeting your legal responsibilities. Every business has them. They are:

• Taking care. A business has the duty of care – which means a business must make sure all waste is stored properly, that rules and regulations are applied, and that proper records are kept.

• Pre-treatment. Since October 2007 the regulations regarding landfills have been updated. No commercial waste can be disposed of unless it can be shown that there has been pre-treatment. Separating waste is a form of treatment as it falls under recycling and re-using.

Reduce, re-use

You’ll automatically start reducing your waste as you start to recycle. You’ll find new ways to re-use old items as well.

There are plenty of reasons why you should get in with the business recycling process – and not all of them are geared towards the environment. There are some very practical reasons why your business would benefit from it – saving costs, boosting staff morale, and avoiding legal issues are just some of them. However, just to give you a larger view, the bigger picture – here’s really why: greenhouse gasses are significantly reduced by having less landfills, raw materials and energy are saved, and natural resources are protected for future generations. It’s a duty. It’s an honourable duty, one that benefits everyone.

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