New waste regulations such as the Landfill and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directives are having a positive impact, according to new figures from the Environment Agency.

The data, released last week, revealed that 60 per cent less hazardous waste was sent to landfill last year than in 2004. Levels of recycling also increased over the same period, with 50 per cent more potentially dangerous waste being recycled or re-used.

Martin Brocklehurst, head of external programmes at the Environment Agency, said that new regulations governing hazardous waste had been instrumental in the improvements. "As new legislation like the Landfill directive and Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) regulations kick in, we’re starting to see a shift in how we deal with hazardous waste," he said. "Business and industry are adapting to the changes."

The research said it was less clear as to whether or not manufacturers were successfully removing hazardous substances from their products, noting that while the amount of waste classified as hazardous rose 12 per cent between 2004 and 2006, this was partly because of changes in the rules on hazardous waste. It also found that the key business sectors such as the oil and solvents industry had produced less hazardous waste over the period.

The findings came as the Environment Agency hinted it would step up its policing of producers and handlers of hazardous waste. The Agency said it was currently revising its guidance and enforcement priorities, adding that its new guidance "puts the onus on producers of hazardous waste to ensure their outputs are properly classified and treated".

The Agency said it would also focus its enforcement efforts on those firms guilty of mis-describing hazardous waste. It added that by June next year it w ill expect all mixing of hazardous waste during treatment to have ceased and for all outputs from hazardous waste treatment facilities to be classified and coded in line with the Classification and Coding Guidance.