Waste

Industrial, commercial and household waste in England and Wales amounts to more than 100m tonnes annually and this figure is growing by around 3% each year. Although waste cannot be eliminated, its environmental impact can be reduced by preventing waste and making more sustainable use of the waste produced.

Ensuring the proper management of waste produced by businesses can play an important role in the cleanliness and safety of a town centre. Where commercial waste is not properly contained it can lead to:
Increased litter
Staining of footways from spilt refuse
A threat to health and safety
A detrimental effect on the appearance of an area

How to improve problems with business waste

To address waste management issues in town centres it is necessary to:
Educate businesses to make them aware of their responsibilities and help tackle the problem
Train local authority staff
Establish an efficient means of collecting and handling commercial waste
Encourage recycling options to reduce waste

Waste strategies will only succeed if staff have the appropriate training to implement them. It is also important that strategies fit into the wider context of a town centre’s own policies and practices as this will help to establish a proactive response to waste.