Hazardous waste disposal can be rather difficult no matter what industry you belong to. Indeed, everything from construction to the health care sector needs to abide by strict guidelines when handling hazardous waste. Failing to do so is not only a public hazard but will also lead to hefty penalties. This is why you’ll want to be as informed and as prepared as possible when it comes to hazardous waste disposal. To help make things easier for you, we thought it would be useful to put together a brief guide on this subject. If this is something that you’re interested in learning more about, read on as we break down everything that you need to know about hazardous waste and hazardous waste disposal.
What Is Hazardous Waste?
All businesses will generate hazardous waste at some point, including items that don’t seem dangerous, like batteries or printer toner. If your organisation uses chemicals, medical waste, paint, electronic equipment, or industrial cleaners, you need to dispose of them safely to protect people and the environment. Employers are legally responsible for making sure waste is treated properly and must assess the risks of all hazardous materials on-site. Companies in the UK are legally obligated to dispose of hazardous waste in a way that won’t harm people or the environment. Many businesses are becoming more concerned about their corporate social responsibility and want to be proactive about meeting this obligation.
Now, how do you determine if waste is hazardous or not? Well, waste is generally considered to be hazardous if it contains materials or substances that are harmful to humans or the environment. Here are common examples of hazardous waste:
- Solvents
- Pesticides
- Oils (except edible ones), such as car oil
- Equipment containing ozone-depleting substances, like fridges
- Hazardous waste containers
- Asbestos
- Chemicals, such as brake fluid or print toner
- Batteries
What Do Businesses Need to Do to Take Care of Hazardous Waste?
The first thing you need to do when disposing of hazardous waste is to figure out if it’s actually hazardous. You need to classify the waste using a waste classification code, which takes into account whether the waste is hazardous, what kind of environment or business it came from, the substance it’s made of, and how it was produced. If there are any special requirements or knowledge related to the waste, you need to include that too, along with a chemical and physical analysis of the waste.
A business’ responsibilities are known as the “duty of care”. These responsibilities expand depending on whether you’re a waste producer, carrier, or consignee.
In general, the waste needs to be separated into different types and stored safely in a secure, labelled location. Use waterproof containers with lids to stop the waste from being blown away, leaking, or contaminated by the rain.
All employees need to be trained to safely deal with hazardous materials they may come into contact with at work. If it’s essential for them to have contact with these substances, they must be provided with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).
The waste carrier you choose must be authorised to collect, recycle, or dispose of hazardous waste. Your business is legally responsible for the waste even after it leaves your premises, so it’s important to use a reputable firm. You will need to use consignment notes to move the waste, and these notes must stay with the waste until it reaches its final destination. The Government has clear guidelines on how to fill out these notes. If businesses don’t keep records of their hazardous waste for three years, they face possible heavy fines. Improper disposal of hazardous waste can lead to environmental and health problems.
What Are the Guidelines for Proper Hazardous Waste Disposal?
As we’ve already stated above, your responsibilities differ depending on whether you’re a waste producer, carrier, or consignee.
Producers and Holders
Producers must follow these steps when disposing of hazardous waste in the country:
- Classify waste and determine if it’s hazardous or not.
- Separate hazardous waste and store it properly.
- Utilise authorised businesses to collect, recycle, or dispose of your hazardous waste.
- Fill in the parts of the consignment note that applies to you.
- Keep relevant records.
As a producer or holder, you must keep copies of these documents:
- Consignment notes
- Consignee returns – you’ll get these from businesses that receive your waste (consignees)
- Any and all related documents such as carrier schedules and records of rejected loads.
You will be subjected to extra requirements in these specific situations: waste is rejected or you transport your own waste.
If your waste is rejected, you need to follow the guidance on rejected loads. If you transport your own waste, then you need to make sure that you meet all the requirements of authorized carriers.
Carriers
Carriers must follow these steps when transporting hazardous waste in the country:
- Register as a waste carrier.
- Thoroughly check on the consignment note before accepting the waste.
- Separate waste correctly before transporting.
- Fill in the parts of the consignment note that applies.
- Leave a copy of the consignment note with the waste producer or holder.
- Take the waste to the destination detailed in the consignment note.
- Keep records.
As a carrier, you’ll need to keep copies of these documents:
- Consignment notes.
- Any and all related documents such as carrier schedules and records of rejected loads.
Consignees
Consignees must follow these steps when receiving, treating, or disposing of hazardous waste in the country:
- Get an environmental permit or register for an exemption for your premises.
- Check the consignment note on the waste before accepting it.
- Reject waste if the consignment note is not present.
- Fill in the appropriate part of the consignment note.
- Send the consignee returns to the Environment Agency.
- Keep records.
As a consignee, you need to keep copies of the following documents:
- Consignment notes.
- Any and all related documents such as carrier schedules and records of rejected loads.
- Site inventory that records where the waste was stored.
Conclusion
We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to helping you gain a better understanding of how to handle hazardous waste. While it may seem difficult at first, the information that we’ve laid out here should help make everything more manageable. Be sure to keep everything you’ve learned here in mind so that you can make the most informed decisions regarding how to handle hazardous waste.
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