Hazardous Waste
Responsible Body:
Environment Agency
Summary:
Hazardous waste is waste that may be harmful to human health or the environment. Whenever hazardous waste is moved or transferred it must be accompanied by a consignment note issued by the Environment Agency.
Environment Agency
Summary:
Hazardous waste is waste that may be harmful to human health or the environment. Whenever hazardous waste is moved or transferred it must be accompanied by a consignment note issued by the Environment Agency.
Key Requirements:
Almost all businesses will produce some hazardous waste, for example:
Garage waste (batteries, brake fluid, used oil/fuel filters etc.)
Office waste (fluorescent tubes, light bulbs, printer cartridges, photocopiers and old computer monitors etc.)
You must complete a consignment note whenever you move hazardous waste from your site (this includes moving it to another site you own) and you must keep copies for three years.
You should evaluate the recycling, recovery and disposal options available for the different types of hazardous waste you produce and ensure that hazardous waste is:
Transported by a registered or exempt waste carrier;
Accompanied by a consignment note; and
Transferred to a facility that holds a suitable environmental permit.
You can check that your carrier is registered or has an exemption in the public register.
Before your hazardous waste leaves your premises you must register your premises with the Environment Agency who will issue you with a unique premises code. There are exemptions from registration if:
Less than 500kg of hazardous waste is produced in any year; and
A registered carrier (or one exempt from being registered) is used to remove the hazardous waste.
You do not need an environmental permit or waste management licence if you store hazardous waste on the site where it was produced for up to 12 months while you wait for it to be collected. The maximum amount of hazardous waste you can store is:
80 cubic metres of hazardous waste in secure containers;
50 cubic metres of hazardous waste in a secure place; or
23,000 litres of liquid hazardous waste at any one time.
All hazardous waste must be stored securely to prevent pollution and liquid hazardous waste should be stored in a dedicated area with enough space for inspection and access.
Duty of Care
You have a duty of care as you are legally responsible for ensuring that waste your business produces or handles is stored, transported, treated, reprocessed and disposed of safely. The duty of care has no time limit. You are specifically responsible for your waste from when you produce it until you have transferred it to an authorised person. If you think that your waste is not being managed correctly you must take action to check and prevent this. You must keep records of all transfers of your waste.
Garage waste (batteries, brake fluid, used oil/fuel filters etc.)
Office waste (fluorescent tubes, light bulbs, printer cartridges, photocopiers and old computer monitors etc.)
You must complete a consignment note whenever you move hazardous waste from your site (this includes moving it to another site you own) and you must keep copies for three years.
You should evaluate the recycling, recovery and disposal options available for the different types of hazardous waste you produce and ensure that hazardous waste is:
Transported by a registered or exempt waste carrier;
Accompanied by a consignment note; and
Transferred to a facility that holds a suitable environmental permit.
You can check that your carrier is registered or has an exemption in the public register.
Before your hazardous waste leaves your premises you must register your premises with the Environment Agency who will issue you with a unique premises code. There are exemptions from registration if:
Less than 500kg of hazardous waste is produced in any year; and
A registered carrier (or one exempt from being registered) is used to remove the hazardous waste.
You do not need an environmental permit or waste management licence if you store hazardous waste on the site where it was produced for up to 12 months while you wait for it to be collected. The maximum amount of hazardous waste you can store is:
80 cubic metres of hazardous waste in secure containers;
50 cubic metres of hazardous waste in a secure place; or
23,000 litres of liquid hazardous waste at any one time.
All hazardous waste must be stored securely to prevent pollution and liquid hazardous waste should be stored in a dedicated area with enough space for inspection and access.
Duty of Care
You have a duty of care as you are legally responsible for ensuring that waste your business produces or handles is stored, transported, treated, reprocessed and disposed of safely. The duty of care has no time limit. You are specifically responsible for your waste from when you produce it until you have transferred it to an authorised person. If you think that your waste is not being managed correctly you must take action to check and prevent this. You must keep records of all transfers of your waste.
Penalties & Implications of non-compliance:
The Environment Agency is responsible for enforcement and may impose a fine.
Further Information:
Environment Agency: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Defra: http://www.defra.gov.uk
Envirowise: http://www.envirowise.gov.uk
The Environment Agency is responsible for enforcement and may impose a fine.
Further Information:
Environment Agency: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Defra: http://www.defra.gov.uk
Envirowise: http://www.envirowise.gov.uk