| Legislation |
|
Duty of Care Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty on anyone importing, producing, carrying, keeping, treating or disposing of a controlled waste to take measures to ensure that the waste is handled and disposed of safely. You must prevent the waste causing harm or pollution. You must store the waste safely and ensure it cannot escape from your control. If you give waste to someone else, you must be sure that they are authorised to take it and can transport, recycle or dispose of safely. If you break this law you can be fined an unlimited amount. Further information can be found at www.Defra.gov.uk HWR Regulations The Hazardous Waste (England & Wales) Regulations 2005 were implemented on 16th July 2005. These regulations were designed to simplify the documentation associated with the collection of hazardous waste and bring us into line with EU legislation. The ultimate objective was to improve waste management and protection for human health and the environment as a whole. Over 200 additional types of waste were reclassified as hazardous waste and all sites with some exemptions producing would need to register with the Environment Agency. It is an offence for any waste collection and disposal company to collect waste from a site that has not been notified or is not exempt. In addition when disposing of your waste the collection body must be a registered waste carrier with the Environment Agency. Domestic waste is excluded from the Hazardous Waste Regulations on collection from the domestic property, but is then subject to the Regulations if it is separately collected or if it consists of asbestos. This includes Prescription Only Medicines (other than cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines) which will be hazardous waste. Further information regarding hazardous waste regulations can be sought at www.environment-agency.gov.uk. |