Scottish businesses face the possibility of being fined if they do not comply with new recycling laws.

The Waste (Scotland) Regulations stipulate that Scottish businesses had to begin presenting paper, card, plastic, glass and metals separately for recycling at the start of this month. Food businesses, excluding those in rural areas, which produce more than 50kg of food waste per week must also present their food waste for separate collection. A ban on any of these materials collected separately for recycling from going to incineration or landfill also came into effect at the start of the year.

These new rules form part of the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 which were passed by the Scottish Parliament on 9 May 2012. Businesses face a maximum £10 000 fine if they do not comply with these regulations.

The Scottish Government has recommended that businesses audit their waste in order to determine where the majority of it comes from. They also recommend businesses contact their waste contractors to determine the best arrangement for separate collections.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead told BBC News that waste is a valuable resource, but only if it properly managed. “These important regulations will help change the way we regard our waste,” he said.