Waste Management

"We must tackle the quantity of waste produced, breaking the link between
economic growth and increased waste" Waste strategy 2000 for England and Wales.

The EC produces more than 2 billion tonnes of waste every year. The UK contributes 425 million tonnes. It is estimated, that for every tonne of manufactured goods, 11 tonnes of resources are employed. Packaging makes up approximately 35% of the weight and 50% of the volume of household waste (Curran, 2001).

Organisation should develop a waste management strategy not only to be green but to decrease costs and become efficient. The strategy needs to be a holistic approach including all types of waste. Within the UK Waste management is taken seriously and follows a strict legislative protocol.

Waste in the UK is regulated primarily through part 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Waste Management Licencing Regulation 1994.

• All waste must be disposed, deposited, recovered or recycled at a suitable licenced site.
• Controlled waste must be transported to a licenced or exempt site by an authorised waste carrier.
• It is an offence to deposit waste on a site without a Waste Management Licence.
• The Environmental Agency are responsible for waste carriers, treatment, disposal, brokers and monitoring.

THE DUTY OF CARE
With regard to the marine environment this is the most significant piece of legislation.

• Any person who imports, produces, carries, keeps, treats or disposes of controlled waste must take necessary steps to prevent its escape.

• Waste must be only be transferred to a authorised body - with the accompaniment of a transfer note (containing all parties involved and information on waste).

• The note can be used multiply times up to a year providing details do not change.
• Records of notes must be kept for two years.
• Breach of these conditions is a criminal offence.

WASTE FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (75/442/EEC)

• Defines the legislative framework relating to all waste throughout the UK.
• It states all EU member states must provide a waste management plan. This aims to ensure that human health is not endangered and no harm comes to the environment.

HAZARDOUS WASTE DIRECTIVE (91/689/EEC)

• The framework is designed to control the movement of hazardous waste.
• A list of all waste deemed hazardous was drawn up by the EC in 1994 and named the Environmental Waste Catalogue. A simplified version is explained by the Environment Agency.
• Any person that produces, moves, receives or disposes of hazardous waste must register with the Environmental Agency and this costs £18. A premises code is issued for a year, and renewed up to one month in advance of expiry date.
• A consignment note must be attached with all movements of hazardous waste, there are six different types of consignment notes with varying costs.
• If you receive hazardous waste the procedure can be found here.
• All parties involved must keep records of hazardous waste movements.

LANDFILL DIRECTIVE (99/31/EEC)

• Aims to prevent ans reduce the negative impacts of landfill on the environment.
• It deems to significantly reduce the total amount of waste for landfill.
• Sites for waste are now categorised into hazardous, non-hazardous and inert
• It bans co-disposal
• Biodegradable waste will be progressively diverted away
• It is illegal for landfill operators to accept any untreated or liquid waste, with effect from 30/10/07. For more information see here.

WEEE: WASTE ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

• The directive makes EU producers of electrical goods become responsible for the recycling or safe disposal of them.
• This legislation will effect anyone producing, selling or storing these goods.
• Find out more information here.

REDUCE - REUSE - RECYCLE

• Households in England produce 291 million tonnes of waste yet 50% can be recycled. However only 18% at present is recycled leaving 72% of unnecessary waste going to landfill.
• It take the same amount of energy to make 1 aluminum can as it does to make 20 recycled ones.
• The government have set local authorities new target to make 33% of waste recycled by 2015.
• To motivate and raise public awareness the government have set up Recycle Now, the £10m multi-media campaign.

References

Curran S., 2001. The Environment: Confronting the Issues. Norwich: The Stationary Company.

The Environmental Agency. Available at: www.environment-agency.org.uk