THE Environment Agency is urging businesses that create hazardous waste to consider the impact of new legislation governing the disposal of such material.

It is also reminding them of their obligation to handle waste safely and responsibly and only give it to properly licensed waste carriers or waste facilities.

Hazardous and non-hazardous waste can no longer be disposed of in the same landfill site. All hazardous waste now requires treatment before it is disposed of.

The Environment Agency has prepared a five-point plan:

Check whether your waste is hazardous.

Budget for rising costs for the treatment and disposal of hazardous waste.

Explore options to reduce the amount of hazardous waste you produce.

Know where your hazardous waste is going.

Keep up-to-date with legislation.

Roy Watkinson, hazardous waste policy manager at the Environment Agency, said: "While some consequences of the legislation are unavoidable, such as increased costs, action is required by businesses to avoid more serious consequences, such as an increase in illegal waste management.

"The Environment Agency is working in partnership with the government to deliver some of these actions and work is already under way."

For more information, contact the agency on 08708 506506.