Organics collections Regulations and potential risks

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Organics collectionsRegulations and potential
risks

• Jane Gilbert
• Chief Executive

www.compost.org.uk
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The UKs membership organisation researching and
promoting best practice in composting and the
uses of composts
Broad range of members Proactive policy
work Quarterly Journal Composting
News Publications
Information and advice Standards for
Composts Composts Marketing Network Annual
Conference
www.compost.org.uk
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Organics collectionsRegulations and potential
risks

• Existing legislation
• Factors to consider
• Animal health
• Human health

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Existing legislation

• EC Framework Directive on Waste
• Article 4 - To ensure waste does not endanger
  human health or harm the environment
• Article 12 covers transport requires
  authorisation
• Environmental Protection Act (1990) (c. 43) Pt II
  
• Section 34 Duty of Care
• Section 45 Collection of controlled waste
• Section 46 Receptacles for household waste

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Existing legislation

• The Environmental Protection (Duty of Care)
  Regulations 1991
• Storing wastes safely and securely
• Completing a Waste Transfer Note
• Transferring wastes to an authorised person /
  organisation
• Covers controlled wastes
• But not animal by-products
• Animal By-Products Order

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Existing legislation

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• Sets out broad framework for HS
• Numerous regulations applicable, e.g.
• Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
  Regulations 1999
• Management Regulations 1999

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Properties of organic wastes

• Biodegradable, therefore
• Can generate malodours
• Are often wet
• Often have a high density ? heavy per unit volume
• Can attract vermin foxes, rats, flies etc.
• Can carry pathogens
• Design of collection schemes needs careful
  consideration!

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Nuisance factors

• Odours
• Frequency of collection
• Weekly, fortnightly etc.
• Seasonality
• Wastes arisings e.g. grass clippings
• Ambient temperatures
• Effect of container design
• Air circulation
• Compaction of wastes
• Attraction and access by vermin
• And livestock (wild birds!)
• Cleanliness of containers
• Use of bin liners?
• Bin washing facilities?

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Nuisance factors

• Collection of water in wheeled bins
• Escape of leachate during collection
• Covering operatives emptying wheeled bins
• Escape of leachate from refuse freighter
• Consider a sealed body vehicle

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Health safety of collection crew

• Ergonomics
• 240 litre wheeled bins full of grass clippings
  can be very heavy!
• Skin punctures
• Thorns, tree prunings
• Bioaerosols
• Exposure dependent upon moisture content of waste
  (Nordic studies)

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Pathogens and other micro-organisms

• Animal health
• EU Regulation
• UK legislation
• Human health
• Research studies
• Example

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EU - Animal health

• Drafting of a Regulation laying down animal and
  public health rules for
• The collection, transport, storage, handling,
  processing and use or disposal of animal
  by-products, to prevent these products from
  presenting a risk to animal or public
  health(Scope in Article 1)

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First reading June 2001
Now changed!

• Article 7
• Animal by-products and processed products shall
  be collected, transported and identified in
  accordance with Annex II
• Annex II - Vehicles containers
• Sealed new packaging or covered leak-proof
  containers or vehicles
• Need to be cleaned, washed and disinfected after
  each use
• Maintained in a clean condition
• Clean and dry before use

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Final text12 September 2002

• Concilliation agreement
• Article 7
• Provisions of Annex II do NOT apply to catering
  wastes of Category 3
• BUT
• Catering wastes should be collected, transported
  and disposed of without endangering human health
  and without harming the environment (Framework
  Directive on Waste)
• Scientific committee to agree on requirements
  (Nov 06)
• EC to submit proposal for Biowaste Directive by
  end of 2004 to include food waste

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British Animal By-Products Amendment Order (2001)

• Introduced in May 2001
• Consequence of Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic
• Separate Orders in E, S W
• Updated the 1999 Order
• Principal aim
• To ban the production and feeding of swill
  produced from catering waste which contains meat
  or products that have been in contact with meat,
  or originates from premises where meat or meat
  products are handled, processed or produced
• Effectively prevented composting catering wastes
• Access to ruminant animals, pigs or poultry,
  including wild birds

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British Animal By-Products Amendment Order (2001)

• October 2001 - DEFRA commissioned comprehensive
  risk assessment
• Animal pathogens (exotic endemic)
• Quantitative
• Published June 2002
• On DEFRAs Web site
• 7 June conference
• Basis for revisions to Order

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Changes to the ABPO

• Will need to integrate with interpretation of EU
  Regulation
• Will only cover catering wastes for composting
  and anaerobic digestion
• NOT green wastes!
• Not animal by-products (legislated for elsewhere)
• Not home composting, but with restrictions on
  livestock ownership
• May be requirement for cleansing disinfection
  of vehicles at site
• If used to bring in wastes transport out
  compost
• More stringent controls if meat collected?
• Consultation draft expected imminently

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Human health - Householders

• Case study (1)
• The NetherlandsSource separation of biowaste
  (green waste, fruit and vegetable wastes) by
  householders compulsory since 1994
• Some concerns about storing wastes indoors before
  collection
• Flats and multi-occupancy dwellings
• Study carried out by University of Wageningen
• Investigated effect of indoor storage of
  compostable waste on the concentrations of
  microbial agents in house dust from living room
  and kitchen floor

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Human health - Householders

• Case study (2)
• Study identified
• Separate storage of organic waste indoors lead to
  a significant increase in fungi and bacteria in
  dust from living room kitchen floors
• Indoor storage of mixed waste (no separation of
  organics) did not increase levels compared to
  indoor storage of residual waste (non organic)
  only
• Unknown effects on human health
• Effects on asthmatics?

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Human health - Householders

• Case study (3)
• Consequences
• Study hit national newspapers
• Questions asked in Dutch Parliament
• Use by pro-incineration lobby to argue against
  composting and separate collection!
• Flats and multi-occupancy dwellings not now
  required to separate organics

Biobin in the home, occasionally harmful to health
Stinking biobin a health risk and controversial
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Organics collectionsSummary

• Need to bear in mind existing and impending
  legislation
• EU Regulation early 2003
• Changes to the Animal By-Products Regulation
  early 2003
• Proposal for Biowaste Directive by 2004
• Need to consider carefully
• Nuisance factors
• Odours
• Vermin
• Leachate
• Health and safety issues
• Householders collection crew

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Conclusion

• Design of collection schemes needs special
  consideration to address these issues before they
  become a problem!
• Composting has many advantages, but lets not
  repeat the mistakes made elsewhere!

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Organics collectionsRegulations and potential
risks
Thank you!

• Jane Gilbert
• Chief Executive

www.compost.org.uk