Objectives
Each
member of the company should take reasonable steps to minimise the
waste they produce. Where there are materials that are no longer
required the following hierarchy of options should be followed:
Reduce - Avoid the need to discard materials in general. Consider asking suppliers to take back any packaging or re-usable items.
Re-use - Just
because you no longer need an item it does not mean another department
or person can? make use of it. Consider passing on equipment to others
before you dispose of it. (See company policy for the re-use/recycling
of items)
Recycle - Segregation of materials for recycling is essential for the reduction of the waste at the company.
Risk Minimisation -
minimise risks of immediate and future pollution or harm to human
health by dis-carding waste in appropriate receptacles and preventing
it from escaping.
Disposal - Any
disposal of waste must comply with the Environmental Protection Act
1990 Duty of Care and any company codes of practise as per the attached
list.
Organisation and Management
The responsibility for adhering to this policy will affect all staff.
Operations
Management will take responsibility for ensuring that appropriate waste
management services are provided to the company through a registered
and approved waste contractor.
Managers should ensure that their
staff are equipped to implement this policy encouraging staff and
operatives to co-operate with waste management and recycling in
general. Managers should take responsibility for ensuring that their
department is compliant with the appropriate legislation and that
procedures are prepared in accordance with the Duty of Care.
Legislation
The Environment Act 1995 - the Environment Agency has been made responsible for issuing waste management licenses and other aspects of waste regulation.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 - The
majority of waste leaving the Company of Derby is controlled waste.
This is described in section 74(4) of the EPA 1990 as the waste arising
from household, commercial or industrial premises. Controlled waste
includes waste from offices, food handling, shops and other domestic
activities.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990, section 34
imposes a "Duty of Care" on producers and handlers of waste, "to take
reasonable measures to prevent the unauthorised deposit, treatment or
disposal of waste." This means the following:
- The Company must keep records of how much waste it is generating.
- The Company must ensure that a registered carrier collects their waste.
- The Company must ensure that all transfer notes are completed and
filed detailing the type of waste for disposal. These must be kept for
three years.
- Ensure that all waste is dealt with in accordance with the "Duty of Care".
Breach of the Duty of Care is a criminal offence and can incur
penalties of up to £ 20,000 or an unlimited fine if convicted on
indictment.
Hazardous Waste - To view the recently released EAUC Hazardous Waste Insight document please read the following:
The Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 (replaces the Special Waste Regulations 1996)
This
legislation is relevant to those wastes that may be hazardous or toxic.
They detail how hazardous waste should be kept, stored, treated and
disposed of. In order to move this type of waste the Company has
registered all sites that produce more than 200kg of hazardous waste
per annum with the Environment Agency. All hazardous waste movements
are recorded using the consignment note system and these must be kept
for a minimum of 3 years on file.
Teams who are producing
hazardous items as per the technical guidance WM2 in the consolidated
European Waste Catalogue should contact Simon Byng who will advise on
adequate procedures for disposal.
Fines for not adhering to this legislation can be up to £ 5,000 and/or 2 years in prison.
This legislation also replaces The Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 which define clinical waste as (where we are working in properties with sharps or in medical facilities):
"any
waste which consists wholly or partly of human or animal tissue, blood
or any other body fluids, excretions, drugs or other pharmaceutical
products, swabs or dressings, or syringes, needles or other sharp
instruments, being waste which unless rendered safe may prove hazardous
to any person coming into contact with it"
Although now
categorised as hazardous waste, for this type of waste the consignment
procedure must be applied. Primarily this is controlled through Simon
Byng.
All clinical waste (sharps) should be kept in lockable
containers and collection, disposal and transfer should comply with
current legislation such as the Safe Disposal of Clinical Waste 1992.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2005
These
regulations aim to ensure that waste electrical and electronic
equipment is disposed in an appropriate environmentally suitable way at
the end of its operational life.
The regulations aim to cover
all electrical and electronic equipment used by consumers and
professionals, which would end up in the municipal waste stream. The
key principle of this directive is producer responsibility for
disposal. However, the company has protocols in place for the disposal
of white goods and electronic equipment. Simon Byng should be contacted
for further information in the disposal of such items.
The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
does have implications for waste disposal as it imposes a statutory
need to maintain and adhere to safe working practises when handling and
disposing of waste
Water Industries Act 1991
The
Water Industries Act controls discharges to the sewerage system and the
quality of water supplies. Dealing with the functions and duties of
sewerage undertakers and the local authority who are responsible for
the supply of water.
Under this act consent of the relevant
water service company is required for discharge of trade effluent to
the public sewer. Consents are given in relation to the quality and
volume of the effluent. The regulatory body is the Environment Agency.
Any changes in the above legislation will be monitored and amended on a regular basis to ensure compliance at all times.
Confidential Waste
Particular
care must be taken in the disposal of all confidential waste. If the
confidential material is in the form of paper small amounts should be
shredded and the shredded paper placed in the office's waste
paper recycling bins . The disposal of all other forms of confidential
waste is the sole responsibility of the lead manager. It is essential
appropriate documentation is obtained and stored for audit if necessary.
WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY GUIDELINES
The waste management policy is a generic document for the company as a whole.
MISSION STATEMENT
- The Company will reduce waste arising from its operations and
implement good waste management practises using the "cradle to grave"
approach.
- The Company will reduce its consumption of materials when ever
practicable and encourage and enforce reuse and recycling by its staff
and operatives.
- The Company will encourage the use of Electronic communication where possible discouraging the printing of E-mails.
- Where practicable buy and promote the use of environmentally
friendly products. This would mean avoiding using non-renewable
resources or products that are polluting in their production and use.
- Trying to purchase items with minimal packaging and ensuring that the product is durable and repairable.
- Compost the organic waste from Grounds Maintenance and reuse on residential sites.
- If disposal is the only option left then the Company will ensure that the Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) is used.
- The Company will adhere to the "Duty of Care" as detailed in the
Environmental Protection Act 1990 in respect of all controlled waste.
- The Company will adhere to the Special Waste Regulations 1996 for all chemical/hazardous waste.
- Review the Waste Management Strategy annually setting targets for improvement and reduction.
- Encourage all staff and operatives to help in the implementation of this policy.
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