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Legislation: A Guide To Your Waste

4. Pre Treatment Of Non-Hazardous Waste.

On the 30th October 2007, the next phase of the EU Landfill Directive came into force. This was designed to assist in the recovery of recyclable materials from waste historically landfilled and help the UK achieve its 2010 target of reducing the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill to 75% of that produced in 1995.

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 example, the shredding and recycling of a waste stream, such as paper, classes as 'treatment' but the compacting of general waste is not a sufficient treatment method. Although compaction is a physical process, it does not reduce the volume of waste or aide its recovery.

In the case of commercial waste, segregation is likely to be the most common form of pre-treatment, essentially meaning that businesses have to ensure that recyclable waste is separated from the general waste stream. Once segregated, producers are legally required to ensure that a reasonable amount of segregated waste is sent for recovery and recycling rather than being landfilled.

This means UK businesses for the first time have a legal, as well as moral and financial obligation, to ensure recyclable materials are segregated and recycled to reduce the amount of waste they produce going to landfill.

What Must Organisations Do?

Most businesses face 3 choices:

  • - Pay your external waste contractor to pre-treat your general waste
  • - Segregate your waste yourself on site
  • - Face EU fines for non-compliance if neither of the above are undertaken

Whether waste producers decide to segregate the waste on site or pay for an external contractor to do so, they must always ensure that waste is properly controlled and recorded. In addition to the legal 'Duty of Care' under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which requires producers to keep records of waste shipments, it is now good practice to document if and how waste is being treated to demonstrate compliance with the Landfill Directive.

PHS Wastetech offers a comprehensive range of recycling services to assist clients in fulfilling their requirements for pre-treatment.

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