James Evans has labelled the implementation of new workplace recycling rules in Wales as “ludicrous” amid concerns from businesses that the laws will do more harm than good.

The Brecon and Radnorshire MS recently held two drop-in sessions in Brecon and Llandrindod Wells for businesses to come and have their say.

This is ahead of the changes being brought in by the Welsh Government next month.

From April 6, it will become law for all businesses, charities and public sector organisations to sort their waste for recycling like households currently do. Food, paper and card, glass, metal, plastic and cartons, unsold textiles, and unsold small waste electrical and electronic equipment will need to be separated for collection, and collected separately.

Businesses can mix paper and card together in the same container, and mix metal, plastic, and cartons together.

The Welsh Government says it is introducing the law to improve the quality and quantity of how waste is collected and separated.

But Mr Evans says businesses in his constituency have already raised serious concerns with him about the new regulations.

“The businesses I have spoken to are all worried about how this will work in reality,” he said. 

“All say this will increase costs and add time burden on staff. Some say they cannot store the various bins in their premises, others question the carbon footprint of multiple rubbish pick-ups for the different waste groups, and others say sorting of food waste will be problematic for them and put their food hygiene certificates at risk.

“A major concern brought to me is that of controlling what customers/users put in the business bins. Is a business owner meant to stand over the waste bins in their premises to ensure that the public comply with the recycling arrangements? Theatres, charities, agricultural shows will be significantly impacted by this new law.”

Brian Strawford, owner of Llynfi Holiday Park in Llangorse, has criticised the changes.

He is concerned about the prospect of having to manage what holidaymakers put in his bins.

“This is a poorly thought-out scheme that has not a hint of practicality about it,” he said.  

“I cannot control what the holidaymakers put in my bins and yet I am responsible for their contents.  Am I supposed to stand over my bins 24 hours a day to ensure the holidaymakers comply with the new law?”

The only workplaces that will be exempt from the new laws are NHS hospitals and private hospitals. They will have an additional two years to comply with the rules.

This means hospitality and tourism businesses, leisure centres, agricultural premises, schools, garden centres and construction sites are among the premises that will need to sort their waste.

Gary Davies of Beacons Construction in Brecon has said the changes make “no sense” and claims in his case, it will lead to greater carbon emissions.

He said: “Under the new legislation, multiple skips will be required at our yard and on sites to separate materials at source - some of these skips may not be full, depending on the project type - leading to additional costs and up to six additional journeys for transporting the skips.”

Mr Davies said that their skips are currently collected by a waste management company and all recyclable material is separated at their depot to ensure that the least amount possible ends up in landfill.

“This is not only for environmental reasons but this also reduces landfill tax costs,” he said.

“We are all for recycling and helping the environment, but why change something that’s currently being done and working well?

“The carbon emissions will increase - which makes no sense.”

Mr Davies added: “Escalating costs for businesses in the current climate is not helpful, the Welsh Government obviously hasn’t thought this through, as all they needed to do is ensure that all waste management companies operate within same guidelines as ours.”

The Welsh Government says the law will increase recycling and reduce the amount of waste sent for incineration and to landfill.

They say it will also improve the quality and quantity of recyclable materials collected from workplaces, which will in turn capture important materials to be fed back into the Welsh economy.

James Evans said the message from businesses at the events was that the new law will be “unworkable” and that businesses will bear significant costs.

“It is disappointing to see that the Welsh Government is coming at this with a stick and not a carrot, not helping businesses transition over a longer period,” he said.

“Instead, bringing this in with six months’ notice and expecting businesses to cope is just ludicrous.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We are introducing this legislation to improve how we manage waste, reduce the amount of waste we send to incineration and landfill and to improve the quality and quantity of recyclable materials we collect from workplaces so we can return these valuable materials to the Welsh economy.

“The reforms have been developed over the last 10 years with consultation and engagement at every stage.

“The quantity and volume of waste will not increase, it will just be collected in a different way which builds on the success of household recycling in Wales and we have provided guidance and tools for workplaces to help them prepare.”