SMALL businesses in the south west have a lack of awareness when it comes to their responsibilities towards the environment, according to research conducted for the Environment Agency.
The survey of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) showed that many firms believed they had little or no environmental impact.
The research was conducted for the agency's NetRegs website www.environment-agency.gov.uk/netregs which offers businesses information free and anonymously on how to comply with green regulations.
It says that SMEs generate about 60 per cent of the country's commercial waste and are responsible for up to 80 per cent of pollution incidents.
However, 77 per cent of south west businesses questioned did not think their activities were harmful to the environment and only 21 per cent could name any environmental legislation that applied to them, although 62 per cent had introduced measures to prevent or reduce harm to the environment.
NetRegs programme co-ordinator Tim Fanshawe said: "The survey shows that small businesses in the south west have a poor awareness of environmental legislation, but many want more support in dealing with these issues, which is why we developed NetRegs."
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