Compliance with water legislation in waste management facilities: experiences from UK small and medium sized enterprises

This study investigated the legal compliance of SMEs with water legislation in UK waste management facilities. The research incorporated legislation controlling oil storage, ground water protection and discharges to sewers and surface waters. Compliance audits and SME management and site staff interviews were conducted utilising regulation-specific and environmental offences’ audit templates. A total of 20 SMEs from the north-west of England were audited between April-September 2008. The research indicates: -• Low levels of compliance with environmental permit conditions and water legislation; SMEs failed to comply with the ‘letter’ and ‘spirit’ of the law; • There is a link between compliance and environmental protection, although, it was unclear as to the extent of this link; and• SMEs considered compliance to be what the regulator identified rather than that detailed in legislation; further research is needed to identify the most efficient balance in regulator inspection frequenc