Lewisham Council is asking for applications for the Business Environmental Excellence (BEE) scheme.
This scheme offers free advice and support on waste and environmental issues while recognizing current good practice.
Benefits to businesses
The BEE Scheme will be of benefit to all businesses in Lewisham who want to:
- save valuable resources and money
- gain free and positive publicity
- improve the local environment
- meet the legal duty of care.
Save valuable resources and money
Recycling and re-using materials can save valuable natural resources, helping the environment as a whole. Re-use of materials can reduce the amount of materials produced and therefore save purchasing costs.
Gain free and positive publicity
The BEE scheme is a way of advertising to your customers and the local community that you are committed to improving your business practices.
Improve the local environment
By storing and disposing of your waste correctly you will be improving the local environment. The scheme also rewards businesses that keep their premises clean and free of graffiti, thereby improving the look of your business and the local community.
Meet the legal duty of care
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 gives businesses a duty of care on their waste. This means waste must be kept safely and secure while in your possession.
You must also ensure that the people collecting your waste for disposal are registered waste carriers. If you don’t comply with the duty of care you could be fined.
By joining the scheme, we can help you become aware of, and adhere to, the correct legislation.
Standards scheme
The awards also act as a standards scheme. You tell us what you are doing in relation to waste management, local environmental quality and other relevant business practices. We will then assess your current practices based on set criteria.
There are four levels of award: bronze, silver, gold and gold plus.
A bronze award recognizes that the minimum legal requirements on waste are being met.
Silver and gold recognize that businesses have gone beyond these requirements.
Gold plus is given to businesses that have gone to exceptional length to make their practices sustainable and to help the local environment.
To request an application form, or for any further information, contact us using the details below.