Hazardous Waste Regulations

The Hazardous Waste Regulations came into force in England and Wales on 16th July 2005

Products classified as Hazardous Wastes are shown in the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) - which also provides guidance on the thresholds at which product concentrations become Hazardous Waste plus a list of "H" Codes - for example "H5" for Harmful products and "H8" for Corrosive products.

The latest guidance can be found at the Environment Agency's website via the following link:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waste/1019330/1217981/1384307/?lang=_e

For typical mixed loads of empty, uncleaned packaging consigned for reconditioning and recycling, the following EWC Codes are commonly used:

EWC 15-01-10* Packaging containing residues of or contaminated by Dangerous Substances

EWC 15-01-06 Mixed Packaging

Note the use of the asterisk (*) which denotes the waste to contain Dangerous Substances.

There is long-running debate as to wether the waste element includes the packaging when it is being consigned for reconditioning / re-use or if the waste is just the residues within such packaging - in which case a different EWC Code should be used for each residue type contained. Whilst this debate continues the EA accept the above EWC Codes as correct for consignment of Empty, Uncleaned Packaging. (see seperate guide for definition of "Empty")

Note that all Hazardous Wastes must be consigned only to fully licensed Hazardous Waste Management Operations - sites registered as "Exempt" may not handle any Hazardous Wastes.

End users of packaging should be aware that packaging containing raw materials that may not have been hazardous products could be classified as Hazardous Wastes. For example - Mineral Oils are not a Hazardous Product but are a Hazardous Waste following use.

Companies producing Hazardous Wastes must register with the Environment Agency (renewable annually)and indicate their Hazardous Waste Producer Number on the Waste Transfer / Consignment documentation.

Hazardous Waste Producer registration may be completed via post, phone or internet - details also via the above link to the Environment Agency website. The cheapest option is via the internet (£18 at time of writing) and usually results in a registration code being provided within a few minutes. 

The Exemptions from Hazardous Waste Producer registration do not normally apply to commercial operations as they are intended for organisations such as shops, schools, libraries etc and even then, this is limited to a maximum of 200kgs per year.

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