Businesses are legally required to limit their environmental impact. Business Gateway’s free online guide to environmental responsibilities sets out the regulations for businesses in general – and explains how to find out which rules specifically apply to you.

The guide gives an overview of the environmental legislation that may apply to your business and then explains various aspects in more detail.

Read the guide to find out about:

• hazardous substances covered by environmental legislation
• waste and recycling requirements
• conservation and biodiversity issues
• preventing and remedying pollution incidents

Yes, if you are thinking about starting, or already run, a business in Scotland.

This is a free and impartial service.

Any business based in Scotland, at any stage in its life cycle.

Take 6 minutes to read about environmental responsibilities for Scottish businesses.

Businesses should immediately report pollution incidents and other serious issues affecting the environment. Call the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Pollution Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

To check which regulations apply to your own business, visit the Business Gateway website and follow the signposts in their guide to environmental responsibilities.