Appendix 7.35

Companies are not legally bound to reduce waste or recycle waste materials, good environmental management also involves introducing waste minimisation techniques and recycling waste materials such as paper. Some companies, however, are legally bound to recycle and recover a specific tonnage of their packaging waste. This is under the Producer responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997- these cover companies with a turnover of more than £5 million and that produce, handle or supply over 50 tonnes of packaging or packaging materials a year.

Even where companies are not obligated under the regulations above, some steps all companies can take in recycling wastes include:

• Reusing or recycling waste solvents.
• Recycling waste oil (in house, or by an external contractor- who will often pay for it).
• Reusing old drums and barrels as waste storage containers.
• Using plastic liners to line drums containing heavily contaminated wastes- allowing drums to be reused.
• Segregating/reusing/recycling wastes such as paper.
• Reusing process water.

Where waste cannot be reused/recycled/minimised at source, it must be stored safely in order to prevent pollution of the environment.

Storage facilities should be in good condition and prevent any leakage or escape of waste. Skips and compactors should be stored within a raised kerb area and covered to prevent the accumulation of rainwater. Skips containing litter should be covered with netting to prevent windblown litter escape.

Different wastes/wastes that will be recycled should be segregated as far as possible and stored within separate containers/vessels.