Most businesses are likely to produce some hazardous waste. As producers of the waste they are responsible for ensuring it is managed correctly. This guidance note has been produced by the Environment Agency to help small to medium sized businesses that produce small amounts of common hazardous waste. It explains how to determine if your waste is hazardous and what your responsibilities are as a producer of hazardous waste, or you either carry or collect waste. This document applies to England and Wales only.
Certain types of waste are classed as hazardous because they possess properties that pose a threat to human health or the environment. Because of these properties, hazardous wastes must be managed carefully, and we have strict rules on how they are dealt with. These rules are brought in to force by the Hazardous Waste Regulations or HWR. Waste producers have a legal Duty of Care to ensure that their waste is managed properly by themselves and others, which are as follows:
- find out if you produce any hazardous waste
- register each of your premises where hazardous waste is produced, if necessary
- segregate and store waste safely
- ensure that waste is managed correctly
- move hazardous waste with the correct paperwork, and
- keep the necessary records
All these points are covered by this guidance. If you are a larger or more specialist business producing complex wastes, or if you work in the waste industry, you will need to read more comprehensive guidance to obtain the necessary advice.
For more information, please follow the next link “A guide to the Hazardous Waste Regulations”.
Source: Environment Agency