Waste Management Legislation Information

Pre Treatment (Effective from 30th October 2007)
The Landfill Directive states that by the 30th October 2007 all waste that goes to landfill must be pre treated. Treatment is to encourage us to recycle more and reduce the impact of the waste that continues to be land filled.

Waste will be considered pre-treated if:
If it has undergone a physical, thermal or biological process including sorting that also changes the characteristics of the waste and must do so in order to reduce:

(a) its mass or
(b) reduce its hazardous nature or
(c) facilitate its handling or
(d) Enhance its recovery.
For general waste this means that a proportion of each waste stream must be separated out for recycling or it must go through a sorting facility. If you already have a separate collection of a material sent for recycling then your waste satisfies the pre-treatment requirements.

After 30th October 2007 if you decide to keep sending your waste to landfill and it isn’t already treated, there are some simple ways you could help to improve the environment and comply with the new rules.

Try to collect your non hazardous waste as individual waste streams. You can then send one or more of these separated waste streams for recycling, for example cardboard or glass. This counts as treatment. If you already do his, then there is no need to do more.
You already have a ‘Duty of Care’ to ensure that you describe your waste properly and only give it to an authorized person. You should also take all reasonable steps to ensure that it is disposed of at authorized facility. From 30th October 2007 when you transfer waste to someone else you should tell them whether the waste has been treated or not. It is good practice to fill out a written declaration and to keep a copy.
Examples
A shop on the high street that currently places all its waste in the bin that gets emptied for landfill would either have to separate out some waste for a separate collection – cardboard for instance or ensure the waste was taken to a sorting facility.

Similarly an office based business that collects all its used printer toner cartridges or office paper and receives a separate collection rather that putting them for disposal with their other office waste is considered to be pre-treating.

A factory with two production lines, each with its own compactor bin at the end will have to be able to demonstrate that some waste from each line is being separated out for recycling or some other process.

Landfill Tax (ongoing)
The government announced in its recent budget that landfill tax would be increasing by £8 per tonne each year from April 2008. This means that landfill tax will rise to £32 per tonne next year from its current level of £24 per tonne and will rise to £48 per tonne by 2010. Therefore recycling will not only be important to enable you to meet your pre-treatment requirement but will also help reduce the increase in costs incurred due to rising landfill tax. 3b Waste is committed to providing extensive recycling services for all its’ customers and is continuing to promote the importance of waste minimisation and/or recycling. Please contact us for advice on any of these recycling options.

Historical Legislation:
Road Transport Directive (March 2005)
As from March 2005 the hours drivers will be allowed to operate will be reduced to on average 48 hours per week. This is going to hit all transport companies very hard as the requirement for drivers will be dramatically increased along with the daily costs.

Flourescent Tube Disposal (2004)
Fluorescent tubes have been classified as hazardous waste however the Environment agency have recently issued guidance which allows a container of mixed waste with up to two tubes to remain classified as non-hazardous. However we are now offering fluorescent tube recycling and should this be a requirement please contact us to arrange a safe method of disposal.

Animal By-Products Regulations. (Revised 2003)
Following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease these have been strengthened to reduce the risk of the spread of disease through raw meat exposure to wild animals and birds. From May 1st 2003 all waste from meat and fish production must be disposed of through rendering, incineration or composting. This applies to all shop raw meat and fish waste although cooked meats have an exemption until the end of 2005. All retailers and manufacturers producing or selling raw meat and fish products must ensure they have a separate collection for raw meat and fish waste and as from January the 1st 2006 for the cooked meat related waste as well.

Co-disposal Ban (2004)
Landfill sites are now classed as hazardous, non-hazardous or inert. Following this legislation the number of hazardous waste sites has been reduced to approximately 10. All hazardous waste will have to be transported to one of these hazardous waste sites. This also coincided with the change in classification of TV’s PC monitors and fluorescent tubes to hazardous waste. 3b can offer a recycling service for these items. Waste Electrical and Electronic regulations (WEEE)Producers of electrical equipment (manufacturers, importers or sellers of own brand) will be required to pay for the cost of WEEE to be moved from collection points. This will be done under a national clearing house the waste will be processed through treatment and recycling centres. Retailers selling electrical equipment will be responsible for raising revenue to pay for improved collection facilities. All producers will be required to register either with a compliance scheme or direct with clearing house. Obliged retailers will be required to register with a scheme or demonstrate that they will take back old electrical items in store.

Hazardous waste regulations (mid 2005)
The current special waste regulations in England and Wales are undergoing a major overhaul which will remove the need for the three day notification process, but will require all hazardous waste producers to pre-register with the Environment agency, probably on-line. The European Waste Catalogue identified hazardous waste items will all then have to be collected under section 62 procedures.