Shadow communities and local government minister, Eric Pickles, is calling for a change in regulations for business waste recycling. The Brentwood and Ongar MP said: ‘Under current regulations, local councils are not allowed to collect recyclable material from business premises at the same time as collecting from residential properties – even if it is a corner shop on the end of a terrace. ‘Indeed, if a local authority did make such a collection, it could face financial penalties under the regulations which govern the Landfill Tax Scheme, and the only way a council can collect business waste for recycling is to send a vehicle down the same street specifically to collect the business waste. | ‘Having a vehicle travel twice down the same road to collect recycling from next door properties seems ridiculous, and is certainly not very environmentally friendly.' Mr Pickles has written to local government minister, Hazel Blears, saying it is time to have the regulations changed.
