|
30 March 2005 - New Hazardous Waste
Regulations for England
Navigation
New Hazardous Waste Regulations for England, replacing the
Special Waste Regulations 1996, meeting the European Hazardous Waste Directive,
have been laid before Parliament.
The new regulations will introduce the following procedures:
-
Simpler procedures for the tracking of hazardous waste from
source site to waste site.
-
Enablement to deploy staff from administration to field
enforcement.
-
Provide guidance and advice of Hazardous Waste Management.
-
Target waste producers who do not comply with environmental
procedures.
Notification to the Environment Agency will be required by
certain businesses in order to register prior to the implementation date of 16
July 2005, of which the following is the timetable, applicable to both England
and Wales Hazardous Waste producers:
-
From 16th April you will be able to request paper forms to
register with the Environment Agency (EA) by post. There is an additional
administration cost if you choose this option.
-
3rd May – EA internet and telephone registration systems will
open for business. The internet will be the most cost effective and
straightforward way of registering, but you will probably find it more
convenient to register by phone than in writing.
-
June – If you are a waste management company looking to register
producers on their behalf you will be able to submit bulk data by disk.
The Hazardous Waste Regulations are as follows:
-
Implement a definition of hazardous waste into domestic
legislation.
-
Require producers or consignors of hazardous waste to notify
(register) their premises.
-
Restrict mixing and to require separation of hazardous wastes
where appropriate.
-
Remove the need to pre-notify EA before hazardous waste can be
moved off site.
-
For waste site operators to keep thorough records of hazardous
waste and provide EA with quarterly disposal and recovery information.
Environment Minister, Mr. Elliot Morley commented:
"I am pleased we have been able to lay these regulations
which will be the cornerstone of our controls on hazardous waste now and for
many years to come. Industry will be pleased that the uncertainty of when they
might apply is now over.
"The Hazardous Waste Regulations come in to force for the purposes of premises
notification on the 16 April. The full requirements of the Regulations come into
force on 16 July and the Environment Agency will be able to accept electronic
notifications from the 3 May.
"Experience of the Special Waste Regulations since 1996 has enabled us to make
improvements, both to streamline the controls in the interests of better
regulation but also to ensure that the Hazardous Waste Directive requirements
are more effectively implemented, and that the environment is fully
safeguarded."
There will be guidance during the month of April for Hazardous
Waste producers, explaining how to register premises from the DEFRA website.
Article by Alexandra Johnston
|
