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Category Archives: Organic Waste

SEPA Protection of Soil and Groundwater

Albion Environmental News, Composting, Environmental Monitoring, Organic Waste, Regulations, Soil Waste Classification, Sustainability, Waste Management

In 2023, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) undertook a review of the Pollution Prevention and Control Permit for waste facilities.  

This review was required following the publication on 10 December 2018 of Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1147 establishing the Best Available Techniques (BAT) Conclusions (BATc) for Waste Treatment. 

Following the review of the provided information, SEPA has since issued a variation of the Permit to the various Operators. 

Alongside changes to monitoring site emissions to air and water, particularly regarding parameters and frequency, SEPA has implemented a new monitoring regime aimed at the ‘Protection of Soil and Groundwater.’ 

This is regulated by adding new conditions to the Permit variation: 

1.  At least every 4 years, the Operator shall carry out a systematic assessment of all measures used to prevent emissions from the Permitted Installation to soil and groundwater.  

  • A written report of each assessment shall be recorded and reported to SEPA.  
  • The report shall include details of, and timescales for, any additional measures that are required to prevent emissions to soil and groundwater.  
  • The first assessment shall be provided within 1 year of the date of this variation. Depending on the type of processes undertaken at the site, timescales may vary.

2. The Operator shall monitor the groundwater at the site for the relevant hazardous substances and at the frequency specified in the Variation. 

3. The Operator shall monitor the soil at the site for the relevant hazardous substances and at the frequency specified in the Variation. 

4. The Operator shall submit a detailed soil and groundwater monitoring plan, for the monitoring required by Conditions 2 and 3 to SEPA at least six months in advance of carrying out the monitoring.  

  • The monitoring plan shall take account of the systematic assessment required by Condition 

5. The Operator shall carry out the monitoring required by Conditions 2 and 3 in accordance with the soil and groundwater monitoring plan required by Condition 4.  

  • Depending on the type of processes undertaken at the site, timescales of the monitoring frequency may vary. 

Monitoring plans must be reviewed no later than 6 months after each monitoring event and results from these events are used to update the current Site Condition Reports. 

Albion can assist with all the above, ensuring your compliance with the Permit Variation.

After an initial consultation, we will help secure SEPA’s approval and share our findings on your behalf. This process saves you time and allows you to focus on other priorities. Our phased approach ensures transparency and reduces the amount of work needed to meet the Variation requirements. 

Contact us today to learn how we can help you comply with your Permit Variation.   

Environmental Compliance Update: Monitoring Fugitive Emissions from Shredding Waste Upholstered Domestic Seating

Albion Environmental News, Environmental Monitoring, Guidances, Hazardous/Special Waste, Health and Safety, Organic Waste, Regulations

 

Environmental Compliance Update: Monitoring Fugitive Emissions from Shredding Waste Upholstered Domestic Seating

🔍 Background: The Environment Agency has issued RPS 297, providing guidance for waste treatment sites handling shredded waste upholstered domestic seating (WUDS) containing persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Whilst this position statement only applies to England, if you are handling POPs/WUDS in Scotland and the rest of the UK it would be prudent to take this into account.

📋 Key Conditions to Meet:

  • Appropriate Disposal: Ensure shredded waste is sent to an authorized Industrial Emissions Directive Chapter 4 compliant permitted incinerator.
  • Health and Safety Monitoring: Maintain workplace exposure monitoring data showing fugitive particulate levels below 5 mg/m³.
  • Fugitive Monitoring Plan: Collaborate with the Environment Agency to establish a monitoring plan by August 31, 2024.
  • Results Reporting: Submit monitoring results to popsinsofas@environment-agency.gov.uk by December 20, 2024.
  • Abatement Equipment: Install abatement equipment by December 1, 2025, if necessary based on monitoring results.

🔗 Read the full RPS here: Monitoring Fugitive Emissions from Shredding Waste Upholstered Domestic Seating (RPS 297)

ℹ️ Please note: While this update provides valuable guidance for waste treatment sites, it is important to recognize the current challenges in monitoring for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and the lack of an agreed sampling methodology in the UK. Additionally, RPS 297 only applies to England and for those operating in other parts of the UK there is currently no similar Position Statement.

🌍 Albion services: If you work with waste upholstered domestic seating Albion can offer the following services:

  • Compliance Assessment: Determine the extent of compliance with regulations regarding the handling, shredding, and disposal of waste upholstered furniture.
  • Risk Assessment: Identify potential environmental and human health risks associated with shredding waste.
  • Consulting: Provide guidance on best practices for managing waste including segregation, handling, storage, and transportation.
  • Training: Develop bespoke training programs for your staff on safe handling practices, environmental regulations compliance, and risk mitigation strategies.
  • Monitoring: Help develop monitoring protocols to track compliance with regulatory requirements.

Contact Us: Have questions or need assistance?
📞01292 610428

 

Albion’s ABC of Waste Management – N – Non-Hazardous Soil Waste

Albion Environmental News, Environmental Risk Assessment, Guidances, Organic Waste, Regulations, Soil Waste Classification, Waste Management

Albion Environmental provide training and advice to ensure your business is compliant and reduce your waste disposal costs.  Do you produce, manage or handle waste soils? Are you aware of your legal obligations? Find out more and sign up for one of our courses now.

Scotland produces approximately 11.6 million tonnes of controlled waste per annum and approximately 4.3 million tonnes of this is waste soil.

If you produce waste soil, to comply with the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2011 and the Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations you must:

  • Apply the waste hierarchy to the management of your soil waste
  • Ensure your waste is transferred to someone authorised to receive it
  • Complete a waste transfer note
  • Describe the waste accurately
  • Take measures to ensure that your waste does not cause pollution or harm to human health

While most businesses will have their waste transfer note paperwork, in our experience, many do not fully complete all of the above steps.

Why should you take time to consider this?

  1. Financial Benefits – By ensuring the waste hierarchy has been applied and soils classified correctly you could reduce the volume of waste soil you generate and its associated cost for disposal.
  • Environmental Benefits – You could reduce the volume of material going to landfill, help identify greater opportunities to reuse soils and lower your carbon footprint.
  • Legal Compliance – It is a legal requirement

What Can Albion Do?

Albion can provide those who produce, handle and manage waste soils with a range of services to comply with your Duty of Care Requirements, including:

  • Bespoke training to help your staff understand their Duty of Care Obligations
  • Sampling and assessment of soil waste
  • Soil waste classification in accordance with WM3 Guidance
  • Soil reuse assessments
  • Development of soil management plans

The results of the above will help your business demonstrate it is complaint and can generate significant cost savings.

To find out more or to have an informal chat please contact Andrew Howlett.

Albion’s ABC’s of Waste Management – A

Albion Environmental News, Anaerobic Digestion Facility, Organic Waste

 A – Anaerobic Digestion (AD)

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a natural process where in the absence of oxygen, micro-organisms/methanogens break down organic, biodegradable matter to create biogas and nutrient rich fertiliser. The process is used to treat organic waste such as food waste, waste water and animal manure. The biogas that is harvested can be used to produce heat and electricity or alternatively it can be treated to create biomethane which can be fed direct to the national grid. There are two methods of anaerobic digestion, mesophilic which operates around 35-40 degrees centigrade and thermophilic which can reach up to 60 degrees centigrade and the method used is determined by the feedstock that is to be processed. A AD Plant Albion Environmental have assisted anaerobic digestion plants to ensure that if they accept animal by-products (ABPs) and / or catering waste, that they are compliant with the Animal by Product regulations ensuring that the end products are safe. For further information on Anaerobic Digestion please visit ‘Anaerobic Digestion and Biosources Association http://adbioresources.org/ or the Biogass Association http://www.biogas.org.uk/

Updates to BSI PAS110

Organic Waste

Updates to BSI PAS110

The Organics Recycling Group recently ran a workshop which focused on the requirements of the new BSI PAS 110, the new AD Quality Protocol and the Biofertiliser Certification Scheme (BCS) Rules.

Albion Environmental Ltd attended this workshop and can advise that a copy of the new standards are due to be released very soon and the transitional steps will be: 

  • 4 months grace period from date of release.
  • AD operators can choose to be inspected against the old PAS for 4 months after the release.
  • After the end of this period operators can only be inspected against new PAS 110.

A link to the BSI PAS110 updates will be added to our website as soon as they become available.