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Page 1 of 2 By John Haines, J & G Environmental Ltd. An inevitable consequence of the print production process is that millions of tons of waste have to be disposed of every year. In the not too distant past much of this waste disappeared into hard-pressed landfill sites with the result that huge volumes of re-useable by-products, many of them hazardous, were discarded with possible adverse effects on the environment. In recent years the amount of waste being disposed of correctly has increased as treatment methods have improved. This has mainly been brought about by increasingly tough legislation introduced by the environmental and health and safety legislators in Brussels and Westminster, although a much greater level of voluntary green thinking has also helped ensure the positive trend has continued.
There isn't a do nothing option any longer.
And there is no doubt the best way forward to help printers meet both their legislative requirements and help save the environment at the same time is to recycle as much waste as possible.
With the regulations applying equally to the large printer and the local print shop it means that all printers need to comply with the myriad of regulations covering the industry including the Environmental Protection Act, Hazardous Waste Regulations, WEEE regulations, Water Resources Act, Water Industry Act and the Health and Safety at Work Act. As the industry is all too aware changes in legislation are happening all the time - battery regulations are scheduled to be introduced in 2010 - and it is our experience that printers sometimes struggle to keep up with the need for compliance. But the penalties for not complying are potentially onerous. The Environment Agency has made it clear on many occasions that ignorance of the regulations will be no defence if an offence is committed and it will not be "just regulating the good guys." The agency's enforcement priorities include illegal tipping; hazardous waste being disposed of at an unlicensed site or being misdescribed, or mixed with non-hazardous material, and for failing to comply with movement and recording requirements. It is also worth bearing in mind that the Environment Agency has access to your suppliers' delivery records so it will not be possible to 'hide' the true amount of waste being generated.
A six point plan Following a simple six point plan can help companies ensure compliance:
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Contact info:
Print and waste:
Vision in Print for best practice guidance and training in Lean manufacturing
'Polestar's Carbon Journey Revealed'. This is the high quality version - there is also a normal quality version on YouTube if preferred.
LetsRecycle this link takes you directly to the pages with news and price information
WRAP for more information on the recycled materials market