SMALL businesses in South Lakeland can now afford to be more environmentally-friendly, thanks to a new group.

The Cumbria Green Business Forum is determined to show how local businesses can become as green as possible by providing advice, support and a lobby for change.

The group found that many small businesses were unable to afford to recycle their waste, which was going to landfill instead. By combining together, small businesses not helped by Cumbria County Council domestic recycling schemes can now afford business recycling.

Rodger Whitroffe, secretary of the group, said: "Large businesses can usually easily afford recycling charges, but smaller businesses struggle."

The group deals with all aspects of reducing the impact on the environment, including transport, local housing, and encouraging people to use local produce. Advice on the group's website (www.cgbf.co.uk) shows how hospitality businesses can be greener by not heating rooms which are not being used; encouraging guests not to require new towels so often; providing single cup kettles in rooms instead of large ones; and fitting fully-lined floor length curtains in rooms.