Nnew laws which reclassify hundreds of household items as hazardous waste will increase fly-tipping, according to a leading business group.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has written to Baroness Young, chief executive of the Environment Agency, to express its worries.
Among 200 items re-classified as hazardous under regulations introduced last month are waste paint, computer monitors, televisions and batteries.
The FSB is concerned that this leaves small firms open to exploitation by unlicensed waste contractors and that fly-tipping could escalate as a result.
John Holbrow, FSB environment chairman, said: "Businesses are having to consider how they manage waste for the first time and many have found that there are no landfill sites that accept hazardous waste for hundreds of miles around.
"With 200 new hazardous items and fewer landfill sites licensed to accept hazardous waste, the cost of disposal is set to rocket.
"The danger is that the added cost and the need to register with the EA could result in businesses seeking cheaper and possibly illegal disposal routes."
Wednesday, August 10 2005
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