New rules on waste management and recycling come into force today.
Pubs will have to adhere to the EU Landfill Directive, which means they will need separate containers for different types of recyclable waste or will have to contract a waste management specialist to separate it.
However, the Federation of Small Businesses has slammed the Environment Agency for not publicising the new rules.
The main change is that liquid waste will be banned from landfill and all landfill waste will have to be pre-treated.
The changes will have a profound effect on the UK's 4.5 million small business owners, who will have the ultimate responsibility for what happens to their waste.
"From tomorrow small businesses will have new obligations when it comes to their waste. We urge small businesses to ensure they are aware of the new rules and to contact their waste contractors," said FSB chairman John Holbrow.
"The FSB supports the environmental principles that have led to these changes. But it would be nothing less than a dereliction of duty for the Government to bring in these new laws without a sustained publicity campaign to ensure small businesses are aware of them.
"The Environment Agency must do more to let small businesses know what their obligations are. Putting information on a website is simply not enough. There must be widespread publicity otherwise small businesses could be punished for breaking laws they knew nothing about."
Information about the EU Landfill Directive is available from the Environment Agency website www.environment-agency.gov.uk.