Legislation
| Released | 23/06/2005 |
|---|---|
| Contributor | Laura Melhuish |
On January 2002 changes to the Hazardous Waste List were applied in the EU, this resulted in approximately an additional 180 wastes classified hazardous. Small businesses, in particular, will now find themselves dealing with hazardous waste for the first time.
From 16th July 2004 the co-disposal of hazardous waste with non hazardous waste at the same landfill site was banned.
On 16th July 2005, the new Hazardous Waste Regulations (England and Wales) were introduced. This resulted in more waste classed as hazardous as well as introducing new controls and procedures for movement of waste, more active producer responsibility for wastes generated, and required registration for hazardous waste producers
Also, as of 16th July 2005 the Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) came into force (England and Wales). Producers of hazardous waste will now have to make sure that waste to landfill meets the WAC. It is therefore essential that businesses can describe exactly what their waste contains, this 'characterisation' will determine what can be done to minimise it, ease its recovery or ensure its safe disposal.