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News Release from: Envirowise | Subject: Waste regulations
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 31 October 2007
New non-hazardous waste regulations from
November
From the end of October every business in the engineering sector will need to treat their non-hazardous waste before disposal to landfill, say sustainable business experts Envirowise
While there are already regulations in place which compel firms to separate and treat hazardous waste (1), from 30th October businesses will also need to treat their non-hazardous waste destined for landfill - which could include anything from food waste, paper and plastic, to bricks, wood and soil The regulations represent the next step in the Europe-wide Landfill Directive (2) and are likely to change the way businesses think about and handle waste on a daily basis
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 9 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Heather Cholerton, Envirowise Programme Delivery Leader, says: "The main objective is to encourage companies to consider options for elimination, minimisation, re-use, recycling and recovery of their wastes.
From 30th October, non hazardous wastes must be treated in some way before being sent to landfill.
Treatment can be as simple as collecting wastes in separate streams and arranging for the recycling of one or more of the separated components.
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Other treatment options include physical treatment, such as breaking down waste brick into aggregate and thermal treatments such as incineration or mechanical biological treatment (MBT) which involves processes such as composting or anaerobic digestion".
It will be the responsibility of landfill operators in England and Wales to ensure that non-hazardous waste has been treated before accepting it for disposal (3).
"In the longer term we are hoping these new rules will encourage people not just to focus on the treatment stage, but to consider whether their waste needs to be generated at all.
The more businesses can do to reduce the use of raw materials at the outset - the more resource efficient and cost-efficient their operations will be".
Engineers could be eligible for a free FastTrack visit from Envirowise.
If your application is successful, an Envirowise advisor will work with you on-site to help identify cost savings and put together a tailored resource efficiency action plan.
For more information on how to save money through the efficient use of resources and advice on waste minimisation, businesses can call the Envirowise Advice Line or visit the website.
Guidance on the Treatment of Non-Hazardous Wastes for Landfill can be found on the Environment Agency website*.
* See http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/GEHO0207BLWJ-e-e.pdf?lang=_e REFERENCES.
1) The Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) regulations 2005.
2) Applied by the The Landfill (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 amending the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002.
3) Treatment can be managed by the waste producer themselves, or outsourced to others such as their waste management company.
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