Waste is an integral part of the circular economy. It is, in many cases, simply a resource that is in the wrong place. But it can also be a nuisance, an eyesore or even a risk to health. In the UK, new regulations, and changes to ways some waste handling is allowed to take place, will both open up opportunities, and impose new liabilities.

The industry still makes heavy use of paper waste transfer notices. These limit the ability of regulators to spot waste crime, and of industry participants to ensure that their obligations are being met. A new digital waste tracking system, currently under development, will make enforcement easier, and improve the sector’s ability to identify profitable opportunities for re-use and recycling.

At the same time, some of the exemptions used to allow waste operations without a permit are being removed. And, the Environment Agency has taken a tough approach to enforcement, successfully holding directors personally liable for waste crime in court.

In this episode, we learn more about these changes, and the steps companies should take—even if they don’t think of themselves as being in the waste business—to make sure that they are ready for a new way of tracking waste.

Guests

Sharon Palmer, head of environment – assurance, The Clancy Group

Craig Burman, partner, Schofield Sweeney

Jessica Morgan Smith, principal consultant, MPG

Hannah Haeffner, national recycling and recovery manager, Tarmac

Partner

Tarmac