Training Your Personnel: Level 4

Appendix 7.37


Special Wastes

Special wastes are those industrial wastes that are deemed particularly hazardous to the environment and subject to tight controls. Special wastes include solvents and oils.

The Special Waste Regulations 1996 control the keeping, management, transport and disposal of all Special Wastes. They cover those wastes being transferred for storage, treatment, recycling and disposal and a more stringent system of consignment notes is applied to the transfer of these wastes. Prior to the removal of such wastes, the Environment Agency must be pre-notified on a consignment note, which details the type and amount of waste being moved. This note must be sent to the Environment Agency at least three working days before the waste is moved and not more than one month in advance of the movement.

Similar to the to waste transfer notes for less hazardous wastes, repeat consignments of the same type of waste can be covered by one notification up to a year. An example where this may occur is where waste oil is removed from site on a monthly basis. In some cases, should the waste be collected on a carrier round, the carrier may complete the paperwork.

Special waste must only be transferred to an authorised person- such as a registered waste carrier. The company should retain copies of consignment notes for at least three years.

Coupled with disposal costs, for the majority of consignments of Special Waste, a fee of £15 is payable to the Environment Agency.

CONSIDERATION OF THE ISSUES RAISED ABOVE CAN AID IN THE REDUCTION OF THE OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF A COMPANIES ACTIVITIES, BUT SHOULD THE COMPANY BE IMPLEMENTING AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, THEN IT SHOULD BE REVIEWED REGULARLY TO ENSURE THAT IT IS BEING IMPLEMENTED CORRECTLY. THIS WILL ENSURE OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS ARE BEING MET AND ALLOW THE COMPANY TO SEE IF ITS IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT IS BEING REDUCED.



Previous Page

Back to Unit 3