ACS is reminding retailers about changes to waste collection rules in Wales which come into effect from 6th April.
From Saturday (6th April), new regulations in Wales will mean that all businesses will need to arrange for the waste that they generate to be sorted into different categories and collected separately by their chosen waste collector. In practice, this means that retailers will need to have up to six different containers for the following categories of waste:
- Food (for businesses that generate over 5kg of food waste per week)
- Paper and card (can be collected together in one container)
- Glass
- Metal, plastic and cartons (can be collected together in one container)
- Unsold textiles
- Unsold small waste electrical and electronic equipment (sWEEE)
If your business does not generate a certain type of waste, for example textiles or small WEEE equipment, then you do not need to have containers available for it. For most convenience stores, the containers required will typically be for waste food (for those who generate over 5kg of food waste in a week), paper and card (from outer packaging and surplus promotional materials), metal, plastic and cartons (from outer packaging and waste generated by staff while on site), and glass (most likely from breakages).
The code of practice that accompanies the regulations states that packaging items that are placed in each recyclable category are empty of their contents and clean. The level of acceptable contamination for other non-packaging items will vary from waste collector to waste collector. It is recommended that you contact your waste collector for advice on this.
Guidance produced by the Welsh Government suggests that retailers undertake a waste audit by walking through the different areas of the store to examine how general waste bins are currently being used, and to adapt accordingly. The guidance states that the areas most likely to generate waste will include:
- Stock room/back of store – packaging such as cardboard, plastic films and wrapping
- Staff room/office – paper, food and packaging materials
- Front of store – some packaging waste, promotional materials, damaged stock and unsold products
If it is requested, councils must arrange a waste and recycling collection service for you, but there is a charge for these services. For stores operating in one of Wales 14 Business Improvement Districts, there may already be additional waste and recycling services that you can access.
As part of the Welsh Government’s environmental regulations, there will also be a ban on sending any amount of food waste to sewers; sending separately collected waste (eg paper and card) to incineration and landfill; and a ban on all wood waste going to landfill.
The Welsh government has made available guidance here. The full regulations are available here. You can also view case study videos (Workplace Recycling Case Study Films - YouTube) to see how other workplaces are getting ready for the Workplace Recycling Regulations.
