Practices could 'save thousands' by complying with green laws

Practices could save thousands of pounds a year by paying closer attention to environmental legislation, experts say.

The environmental law website www.NetRegs.gov.uk has opened a new healthcare section for practices concerned to avoid fines and needless charges for breaching green laws.

‘Healthcare centres and general practices’ brings together what a practice needs to know to stay on the right side of green legislation.

‘Last year small businesses were fined £2.4 million for breaches of environmental law,’ said Richard Martin, programme manager for NetRegs, a partnership between the Environment Agency and its Scottish and Northern Ireland counterparts.

‘The number of prosecutions and the size of the fines are tending to increase.’

Green-savvy practices can use the NetRegs site to avoid needless charges, Mr Martin said.

‘A practice could save hundreds of pounds by segregating its own clinical waste rather than paying the carrier.’

He urged practices to register on the site to receive email updates of changes to green legislation.

Businesses using monthly NetRegs updates save £2,615 a year in staff time identifying new green requirements.

prisca.middlemiss@haymarket.com

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