Hazardous Waste Regulations In The UK
As a business handling hazardous waste, you have a duty of care to the public and the environment. This means following UK waste regulations to ensure hazardous waste is contained and disposed of correctly. In this guide, we break down the hazardous waste regulations in the UK and your responsibilities as producers, carriers, or consignees of hazardous waste.
- Important UK Waste Regulations
- Who Waste Management Regulations Apply To
- What is a Hazardous Waste Consignment Note?
- How to Identify Hazardous Waste
- How Hazardous Waste is Disposed Of
- The Process of Hazardous Waste Disposal
- What Happens If I Do Not Follow Waste Management Legislation in the UK?
- How to Find Your Nearest Waste Disposal Service
- Comply with Hazardous Waste Regulations with Woosh
Important UK Waste Regulations
There are various waste management regulations you should be aware of if you are handling hazardous waste. Each legislation is regulated by the Environmental Agency (England), Natural Resources Wales (Wales), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Scotland) and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland). The most important to note are:
Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005
There are separate Hazardous Waste Regulations for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which may have slightly different rules, so it is important you check the appropriate waste regulations for your area.
The UK waste codes define how businesses must store, transport, and dispose of hazardous waste correctly. This is to reduce the harm hazardous waste can cause to humans, animals and the environment.
The main takeaways from this waste legislation are hazardous waste must be disposed of correctly and not be mixed with non-hazardous material, and hazardous waste consignment notes must be exchanged and kept on record for three years as proof of proper disposal.
Special Waste Regulations 1996
The Special Waste Regulations 1996 apply to Scotland only. This legislation lists the types of materials that are classified as “special waste” (hazardous waste). If your item is listed, you must follow the proper procedures to dispose of it safely.
Hazardous Waste Registration
Rules on hazardous waste registration have changed in recent years. Previously, you had to register with an environmental body if your organisation produced over 500kg of hazardous waste. This is no longer the case unless you are located in Wales. You can find more information about registration on the Government website.
Some additional waste management regulations that may be of interest include:
Environmental Protection Act 1990
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 states that everyone, including businesses and organisations, has a duty of care to the environment. This regulation details specific information about pollution, contamination, waste, and other areas of environmental protection that may be caused by the incorrect disposal of hazardous waste.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013
Electrical waste and electronic equipment are considered hazardous waste because they contain harmful materials, such as batteries. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulation (WEEE) states that electrical waste should be properly disposed of or recycled to avoid harm to the environment.
Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009
This regulation aims to ensure the safe handling and movement of hazardous materials across various modes of transport, including road and rail. It emphasises the classification, packaging, and labelling of hazardous waste for the safe transport of hazardous materials across the UK.
Who Waste Management Regulations Apply To
The process you must follow to dispose of hazardous waste depends on how you encounter the waste. You can either be a producer/holder, carrier, or consignee. Here are the responsibilities for each role.
Waste Producers / Holders
As a waste producer/holder, you produce, hold or store hazardous waste at your facility. You must classify the waste to check if it is hazardous and separate it from any other waste. It is then your responsibility to use an authorised waste management service to dispose of the waste for you. You must always check your chosen waste disposal service is registered and has the correct permits before handing over your waste.
During the exchange, you must fill out a hazardous waste consignment note. You will be given a copy of this note and should keep it for at least three years for your records as proof.
Waste Carriers
Waste carriers are responsible for taking the waste to the appropriate disposal site. You must be registered as a waste carrier to transport hazardous waste. When collecting hazardous waste from a waste producer/holder, you must check the consignment note and leave a copy for the producer.
You must then take the hazardous waste to the appropriate disposal site as specified on the hazardous waste consignment note.
Waste Consignee
As a waste consignee, you will receive, treat or dispose of hazardous waste. You must have an environmental permit or register for an exemption. Before you accept any hazardous waste, you must check the consignment note to ensure it is classified correctly and the information is correct. You should reject the hazardous waste if there is any missing or incorrect information. You should keep a copy of the consignment note for your records.
For more information about your responsibilities when handling hazardous waste, please visit the Government website.
What is a Hazardous Waste Consignment Note?
Harmful waste consignment notes are important documents that must be exchanged by each hazardous waste handler to ensure the safe disposal of hazardous waste. The note will detail information such as:
- A Unique Consignment Note Code
- Details of the Waste Producer/Holder
- Details of the Waste Carrier
- Details of the Waste Consignee and Destination
- Description of the Waste, including the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) code, quantity and components.
- The Process That Produced the Waste
- Hazard Codes
- Container Type and Number
- Date and Time of Transfer
- Signatures of the Waste Producer, Carrier and Consignee.
You should always keep copies of the hazardous waste consignment as evidence of the proper disposal of hazardous materials. The duration of which you should retain these records varies depending on your role in the disposal process. For more information, please refer to the Government website.
How to Identify Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste must be classified and assessed by the waste producer/holder before it can be taken by the waste carrier. There are a couple of ways you can classify waste, including:
- Waste Classification Code: You can check the product's UK waste code, as listed in the List of Waste or European Waste Catalogue (EWC) codes.
- Manufacturer or Supplier Safety Data Sheet: The manufacturer or supplier of the material will have information regarding whether the material is hazardous or non-hazardous.
- Symbols: A material may be hazardous if its container has orange or black symbols (older materials) or red and white hazard symbols (new materials).
- Samples: You can send a sample of the material to a laboratory for testing if you cannot find the information above.
- Ask for Advice: If you are still unsure, contact a waste management specialist or contractor for advice.
. Some examples of hazardous waste materials include:
- Asbestos
- Adhesives
- Chemicals like brake fluid or printer toner
- Clinical waste
- Electrical equipment
- Batteries
- Fluorescent tubes
- Solvents
- Pesticides
- Oils like car oil (not including edible oils)
- Equipment containing ozone-depleting substances, such as fridges
- Hazardous waste containers
How Hazardous Waste is Disposed Of
Hazardous waste can be disposed of in numerous ways. The most common hazardous waste disposal methods include:
- Landfill: This is the final destination for hazardous materials if they cannot be safely disposed of with other methods. Additionally, only specific landfill sites can handle hazardous materials.
- Recycling: This option is most common for electrical waste and electronic equipment. Batteries, for example, can be recycled.
- Treating: Some hazardous water materials may need to be disposed of through chemical, thermal, biological or physical treatment. This can include neutralising harmful acids with alkalis or incineration.
The Process of Hazardous Waste Disposal
- Waste producers/holders will identify and classify the hazardous material.
- The organisation will then contact a registered waste disposal company to collect the hazardous waste and take it to the corresponding disposal site.
- During the exchange, both waste producers and waste carriers must fill out a hazardous waste consignment form, and each retain a copy.
- Waste carriers will then take the hazardous materials to the correct waste disposal site, as listed in the consignment note.
- At the disposal site, waste consignees must check the consignment note to ensure that all information is correct and that it is not missing.
- If the consignment note is correct, the waste will be accepted, and the waste carrier and waste consignee will exchange consignment notes.
- If the consignment note is incorrect, the waste will be rejected.
- All parties must retain a copy of the hazardous waste consignment note for their records. Failure to do so is a breach of hazardous waste regulations.
What Happens If I Do Not Follow Waste Management Legislation in the UK?
It is imperative you follow waste management regulations to ensure the safety of humans and the environment. If you do not follow waste regulations or dispose of hazardous waste material properly, you may:
- Cause water, air or land pollution
- Endanger humans and animals
- Harm the environment
- Increase the risk of fires and explosions
- Contaminate water supplies
- Damage your company’s reputation
- Be at risk of fines, prosecution and even imprisonment
How to Find Your Nearest Waste Disposal Service
To find your nearest waste disposal service, please visit
Comply with Hazardous Waste Regulations with Woosh
Ensuring your company complies with hazardous waste regulations is crucial to prevent harm to humans and the environment and avoid costly fines or imprisonment. At Woosh, we put the planet first. That’s why we use biodegradable chemicals and recycled materials in our products to reduce our impact on the environment. To do your bit for the planet, take a look at our clinical care range to find suitable sharps bins and sanitary bins to separate your hazardous waste. Take your waste duty of care seriously with Woosh today!
FAQs
What is the hazardous waste law in the UK?
As an organisation that handles hazardous waste, you have a duty of care to the public and the environment. This means you must ensure the safe disposal of the waste by following the appropriate hazardous waste regulations in the UK.
What is the Waste Regulations Act 2011?
The Waste Regulations Act 2011 revised the EU Waste Framework Directive in England and Wales to promote waste prevention, reuse, recycling and recovery. A waste hierarchy was introduced to set priorities for waste management. Additionally, the need to separate waste materials for recycling was also specified.
What are the criteria for a waste to be considered hazardous?
Waste is considered hazardous if the material is harmful to the environment or humans. To identify whether a material is hazardous, you can:
- Check the Waste Classification Code
- Read the Manufacturer or Supplier Safety Data Sheet
- Look for Symbols
- Analyse Samples at a Laboratory
- Ask for Advice from a waste management specialist or contractor
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