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.
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