Pubs in the dark over new waste rules

THE GOVERNMENT "must do more" to make pubs aware of new recycling regulations, according to the Federation of Small Businesses.

It described the lack of advertising as a "dereliction of duty" on the government's part.

For most pubs across England and Wales the new laws, which came in on October 31, mean paying for an additional collection service and separating out their waste for recycling.

Nigel Wiltshire, a business consultant at Better Value Solutions, says his pub and bar clients only become aware of the regulations two weeks ago.

He said: "It's a bit like most of the government's green things - they are a bit airy-fairy."

However, Wiltshire thought most pubs wouldn't be affected either because they employ contractors to take their waste away already or recycle anyway.

Chris Dyson, owner and licensee of the Burtle Inn, in Somerset says he won't comply with the new regulations as his local authority refuses to collect his glass.

He said: "If the local authority can't be bothered to collect then I can't be bothered to sort them."

Alan Jones, licensee at the Bridge Inn, in Chepstow - who already uses the Monmouthshire Community Recycling partnership - was also not aware of the regulations. He said: "Something probably came through but we get so much rubbish through that it's probably got recycled."

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "As with any new legislation we will allow time for bedding in. We realise not everyone will know about it straight away and from tomorrow we are not going to switch on and have Environment Agency staff out there enforcing."