Waste Regulation

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Waste Regulation

• Steve McGuire
• Environment Protection Officer

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Content

• SEPAs role as a waste regulator
• Waste types and definition
• Duty of Care
• Waste Carrier Registration
• Licensing and exemptions
• Sources for further information

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SEPAs Role as a Waste Regulation Authority

• Licences/permits the keeping, treatment and
  disposal of waste
• Inspects and monitors waste facilities to ensure
  they comply with the conditions of their
  licence/permit
• Takes enforcement action when waste legislation
  has not been complied with
• Works with Local Authorities to tackle
  fly-tipping
• Registers waste carriers

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Types of Waste

• Controlled waste
• As defined by the Environmental Protection Act
  1990, it is any waste arising from industrial,
  commercial or domestic sources
• Special waste
• A waste is classed as 'special' if it has any of
  a number of hazardous properties in a quantity
  liable to cause harm to others and the
  environment if improperly handled, treated or
  disposed of

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Duty of Care

• Basic requirements
• All waste stored and disposed of responsibly
• Waste is only handled or dealt with by
  individuals or businesses that are authorised to
  deal with it
• A record is kept of all waste transferred through
  a system of signed Waste Transfer Notes

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Your Duty of Care

• As a waste producer you must
• Ensure you give your waste only to someone who is
  authorised to take it
• Ensure that your waste is taken to a suitably
  licensed/permitted waste facility
• Stop materials escaping from your control or the
  control of anyone else by packaging it
  appropriately and robustly 
• Ensure that the waste being transferred is
  accompanied by a written description a Waste
  Transfer Note

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• Must contain
• Accurate description of waste type and quantity
• European Waste Catalogue (EWC) Code
• The time and date of the waste transfer
• What sort of container it is in
• Name and address (and Licence number) of waste
  contractors
• Registered waste carrier certificate number (if
  necessary)
• Must be kept for 2 years

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Waste Carriers Registration

• You must register as a waste carrier if you
  transport controlled waste within Great Britain
  (Scotland, England and Wales) in the course of
  your business or in any other way for profit
• Even if you only transport small quantities of
  controlled waste or only once in a while
• Registration fee currently 149 for 3 years
• Some exceptions
• Householders carrying their own waste
• If you transport only waste which you have
  produced (except building and demolition waste)
• Charities must register but no fee

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Waste Management Licences

• Environmental Protection Act 1990
• Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994
• General requirement if
• Treating waste
• Keeping waste
• Disposing of waste
• Licence includes specific conditions of use
  types and quantities of waste record keeping
  pollution prevention measures

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Waste Management Licence Exemptions

• Specific low-risk operations
• Aimed at recovery/reuse of waste
• Must comply with the terms of the exemption and
  relevant objectives
• Certain activities have a fee involved and expire
  after 1 year
• How to register
• Application forms available at www.sepa.org.uk
• Contact your local SEPA office

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Composting

• Paragraph 12 Exemption
• No meat products allowed (inc. meat included
  catering waste)
• No fee if lt100 tonnes per year throughput
• Fee 398 if gt100 tonnes per year throughput

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Contacts Information

• www.sepa.org.uk
• Local SEPA office
• Dingwall 01349 862021
• Elgin 01343 547663
• Fort William 01397 704426
• Thurso 01847 894422
• Orkney 01856 871080
• Shetland 01595 696926
• Stornoway 01851 706477
• Perth 01738 627989