Gitty AnkersTechnical Specialist,Environment Agency

New rules on handling your business waste

What’s in store? Waste - a growing challenge Its time to reduce, reuse and recycle Duty of Care Waste Carriers and Brokers Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Hazardous Waste Regulations Agricultural Waste Where to get help and information

Public opinion

Public opinion

A growing challenge - why?

Some small businesses may now be directly regulated for the first time, e.g. WEEE and Landfill Directive

How will SMEs be affected by new environmental legislation?

The Landfill Regulations What’s happened? Changes to the Landfill Regulations - October

30th 2007 All non hazardous waste must be pre treated

or “sorted” before it goes to landfillWhy? - Increase waste minimisation, recycling and

recovery - Reduce amount of biodegradable waste going

to landfill - Reduce green house gas emissions from

landfill (contribute to climate change)

Don’t panic

What do I have to do?

Businesses must pre-sort waste that goes to landfill.

Opportunity to look at your waste streams and recycle more of your waste

If you recycle one waste stream e.g. PAPER you are already complying with the changes. But why not try and recycle more.

You must sort your waste i.e. recycle it squashing your cardboard does not count.

☺!

How do I treat my waste ?

Speak to your waste contractor

Ask them :1) Can they sort your waste for you ?

2) Can they provide recycling bins/skips so you can separate out and recycle your waste e.g. paper, glass, cardboard and plastic.

OR3) DIY – set up a recycling system and take it to a licensed transfer station or landfill

- Got limited space, no room for lots of bins just recycle one waste stream.

- If you have more space you could order several skips/bins to separate out and recycle more.

Examples of what you could recycle

A florist could reuse any spare paper and recycle any cardboard and look at composting any old flowers.

A plumber could recycle copper pipes and any rubble or wood generated.

A restaurant decides to separate glass and cardboard from general

waste and send it for recycling.

A small bakery could separate the paper, cardboard and plastic for recycling.

a retailer - could recycle cardboard boxes, plastic wrapping and carrier bags. Any remaining food and contaminated packaging could go to landfill.

Duty of Care - Paperwork

You need proof that you have sorted your waste before it goes to landfill.

We don’t want to create extra paperwork so…..

When sending waste to landfill make a note on your transfer note identifying what waste has been separated

REMEMBER - You have a Duty of Care to responsibly dispose of your waste

A transfer note must accompany movements of waste.

They must be kept for 2 years.

Copy of transfer noteThere is no template for a transfer note you can make your own one.

A copy can be found on our website

Enforcement of the landfill regulations

Light touch on enforcement providing advice to those who are unaware of the

legislation targeting landfill operators and encouraging waste

producers to separate their waste. Ensuring use of a declaration form/transfer note to

prove waste has been sorted. Fly tipping will not be tolerated - if you know someone

who is doing it or offering cheap too good to be legal waste disposal services tells us 0800 807060

Are you a registered carrier of waste ?

If you carry waste or other people’s waste you must register with the Environment Agency.

Cost £144 for three years. See link http://www.environment-

agency.gov.uk/business/444304/444641/1789660/1575883/?version=1&lang=_e

It is an offence not to register and we do spot checks with the police.

Fly-tipped business waste can often be traced to the producer.

Watch out if you’ve used an unauthorised carrier!

Your waste, your responsibility…….

Is storage and handling safe and does it comply with the law?

Where does your waste go? Get to know your contractor! Is

s/he legal? Reduce, re-use and recycle!

Every bit of waste needs thinking about - why are you wasting it? Review all your waste production and try to eliminate waste

Quick and Easy - 10 point checklist

WEEE Regulations - key features new equipment to be marked; retailers to offer in-store take-back or establish

alternative collection network; all separately collected WEEE to be treated; all treatment sites to be regulated; recovery and recycling targets for various categories of

separately collected WEEE; manufacturers / importers to fund treatment / recycling; separate arrangements for non-household WEEE

Agricultural WasteThe regulatory controls:Regulations implemented 15 May 2006

• Stop tipping and stop burning• Duty of Care• Register exemptions• Waste management licensing• Waste Carrier Registration• Hazardous waste controls

What is Hazardous Waste? These are some of the wastes which can be hazardous: Asbestos, Batteries Herbicides and pesticides Animal healthcare wastes eg used syringes, dressings

and some drugs Fluorescent tubes and CRT computer monitors Our Guidance on definition of hazardous waste www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wm2

Dealing with Hazardous Waste It’s the producer’s responsibility to ensure: Registration of premises where more 200kg of

hazardous waste/year is produced Use of hazardous waste consignment notes Use of licensed facilities to deal with hazardous

waste Keeping records Our guidance on dealing with Hazardous waste: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/hazwaste

Manufacture and use of chemicals - Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH)

If you manufacture, import, sell or use chemical substances you must comply with the REACH Regulation.

REACH aims to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment through the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemical substances.

REACH- Key dates

1 June 2007: REACH came into force.

1 June 2008: European Chemicals Agency becomes operational.

1 June 2008 to 30 November 2008: Pre-registration period.

1 June 2008: Registration, evaluation and authorisation begins.

REACH- Key issues

Industry should:

work out what their REACH responsibilities are as soon as possible.

make an inventory of chemical substances that your business makes and uses.

contact suppliers to make sure they are aware of interests.

Pre-registration is very important – by pre-registering full registration can be delayed for up to 11 years, depending on the quantities and types of chemical substances dealt with.

The Health and Safety Executive is the competent authority for REACH in the UK and will run a helpdesk providing advice on REACH.

So what help is out there?

Landfill Tax

BREW fund

Business Link

Nationalprogrammes

Carbon Trust

Envirowise/ REC

NISP

WRAP

RegionalProgrammes Environment

Agency

Envision

www.defra.gov.uk/ENVIRONMENT/WASTE/brew/factsheets.htm

REDUCE

RE-USE

RE-CYCLE

REWARDS

Where can I get more advice? www.netregs.gov.uk

For free plain English advice on environmental legislation and good practice tips

Pollution Prevention Pays pack

More info go to www.environment-agency.gov.uk/ppg

Agency Information & Guidance Guidance on Treatment of non-hazardous wastes for

landfill, Feb 07 Frequently asked questions, V2 Briefing Notes on

Treatment of non-hazardous wastes for landfill Factsheets for general business, landfill operators and

waste carriers. Flyer – ‘Your waste’Web address:

www.environment-agency.gov.uk/landfilldirectivePhone no: 08708 506506

In 5 quick and easy steps

Minimise and separate waste and manage resources and raw materials wisely - to save you money.

Contact your skip operator

You need to know your responsibilities and ensure that your waste has been sorted before it goes to landfill.

Tighten your Duty of Care checking to help rule out fly tipping. Report fly tipping or illegal activities – so we can stop the cowboys and make it fairer for you.

Get a declaration from your waste operator or landfill site to prove your waste was treated by a licensed operator.

what you need to do

Ensure that you meet your duty of care and your waste is being managed properly. IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE NOT TO

Create less hazardous waste through prevention and reduction (design-out hazardous constituents)

Improve treatment technologies to deal with wastes produced

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH CHANGING LEGISLATION

For further help

We are happy to help give us a call.

Gitty Ankers - Waste Compliance on 01208 265060

gitty.ankers@environment-agency.gov.uk