Sustainability is emerging as an influential economic concept and minimising the impact of disposal is vital to the future of the environment

For industry, the importance of professional waste management lies in meeting stringent legislation, in maximising profitability and in matching consumer expectations and rising shareholder pressure. The waste management service which a firm chooses can have a very real impact on performance, and even on the survival of the firm itself.

Poorly managed waste is a legal liability

The Environmental Protection Agency places a legal liability on directors to exercise a duty of care that their company's waste is stored, transported and disposed of in compliance with the Act. Liability is personal upon directors, and any conviction accompanies individuals when they change jobs. Penalties are severe; there is a maximum fine of £20,000 or six months imprisonment for each offence. An individual who has been negligent over an extended period faces the risk of very severe punishment. Amongst the specific responsibilites that the Environmental Protection Agency imposes are:

the duty to check that the waste carrier is registered and the disposal route is suitably licensed to take the appropriate classes of waste that the company generates

the duty to give an accurate account of the company's waste stream. Penalties for failure, in the case of special, hazardous and toxic waste, are especially severe

The European Packaging Directive could permit customers to insist that companies accept responsibility to take back all unnecessary packaging. The directive has prompted the Government to consider levy systems either on individual packages or containers, or on collection and disposal points, particularly landfill. As a result, marketing departments need to carry out a strategic review of the volume of packaging materials that they impose on each stage of the retail and consumption chain.

The Government proposes to establish an Environment Agency, which will draw together the enforcement arms of the Health and Safety Executive, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution, the National Rivers Authority and the local Waste Regulatory Authorities. This will create a strong unified agency which will guarantee enforcement of the laws on waste management.

However, with more than 3,000 waste companies to monitor, the task is daunting. At present, the top 12 waste companies are monitored very closely since the authorities find it more cost-effective to visit the bigger operators. As a result, smaller waste firms often escape the level of attention necessary to ensure best practice is being followed. This has a direct implication for the clients of these companies since they are now legally responsible, under the EPA, for the way their waste is disposed.

Complex waste streams demand segregation

Waste streams are increasingly complex. Segregation is needed not only to meet new legal requirements, but also to maximise recycling.

In particular, the reclassification of special wastes under the Environmental Protection Agency will now include many new items. For example, it is expected that discarded paint containers, oil filters and batteries will be classified as special. The effect of this will be to increase the current annual UK tonnage of hazardous (special waste) from 2.5 to 6 million tonnes. High street businesses such as the motor trade, dry cleaners and pharmacists are all likely to be affected.