Background Despite EU regulation that addresses specific waste streams and the implementation of the Waste Framework Directive and related directives, the amount of hazardous waste generated is increasing. Without urgent action, targets for European waste may not be met. The problem of hazardous waste is particularly acute in communities remote from a waste infrastructure; this can lead to stockpiling and expensive long-distance waste movements. Previous initiatives have treated SMEs in the same way as major industry, but this is a flawed approach as major industry has benefited from better access to environmental guidance and advances in clean technology. A method is needed that will make a significant contribution to meeting the Sixth Environmental Action Programme (6th EAP) target to reduce the volumes of hazardous waste generated by around 20% by 2010 compared to 2000 and in the order of 50% by 2020. Objectives HAZRED focused on the prevention and reduction of waste in accordance with the EU’s approach to waste management policy based on the guiding principles of the waste hierarchy. The project aimed to reduce the volume of hazardous waste generated by targeting SMEs within six priority industry sectors. (It would work with SMEs rather than major industry because SMEs have less access to environmental expertise and services). HAZRED aimed to demonstrate: An innovative partnership approach in setting waste reduction targets for each sector rather than using tax, mandatory targets or targets set by the waste producer; The benefit of using a priority sector approach to hazardous waste reduction; and The application of hazardous waste reduction plans in achieving reduction targets.Results The HAZRED project aspired to demonstrate a method which will make a contribution to meeting the 6th EAP target to reduce the volumes of hazardous waste generated by around 20% by 2010 and has supported the Waste Framework Directive (Art 3(1)) for SMEs to “take appropriate measures to encourage the reduction of waste production and its harmfulness”. Finally, HAZRED supported the delivery of high level objectives and principles embodied in the Landfill Directive; Hazardous Waste Directive; Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) and End of Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive. The project was reasonably successful: waste reduction plans for six priority sectors were developed in five languages and disseminated widely through an excellent website. The project formed a large network of stakeholders and the plans continue to be downloaded from the site. The project has continued after the LIFE project funding through the NetRegs website (http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/), which provides free advice to SMEs to meet their environmental challenges. The NetRegs EAlerts are sent to around 20 000 SMEs and numbers are increasing. The project, however, was unable to mobilise the targeted number of SMEs (120) to take an active part in the scheme and in the end only 50 SMEs participated. The direct (quantifiable) benefits of the project have been the diversion of 1 208 tonnes of hazardous waste from landfill and cost savings to UK and Irish SMEs of £442 380 (around €514 000) set against a real cost for the project of €942 883. Given that a significant cost of the project was the development of the tools, this could be said to be reasonably cost-effective. The indirect (un-quantifiable) benefits include savings in raw materials and the additional benefits of reducing non-hazardous waste streams. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).