Hazardous Waste Management

Classification and the List of Waste codes

Every hazardous consignment needs a classification and a List of Waste code, sometimes called an EWC code. The code identifies the waste type and whether it is hazardous or non-hazardous. Getting it wrong affects the consignment note, the receiving site’s permit and the treatment route.

Classification is a technical exercise. It considers the hazardous properties of the waste, the concentration of relevant substances, and the physical form. Some entries in the List of Waste are absolute hazardous entries, meaning the waste is hazardous whenever that code applies. Others are mirror entries, with a hazardous entry marked by an asterisk and an alternative non-hazardous entry. The correct entry depends on the assessment.

Where a waste could be hazardous, the assessment should be recorded and kept. It supports the consignment note and gives anyone handling the material the information they need. We can help with classification reviews and with pulling together the information a receiving facility will ask for.

Storage, segregation and labelling

Hazardous waste must be stored so it cannot escape, react or contaminate other materials. The practical points are usually straightforward but easy to get wrong under production pressure.

• Keep incompatible wastes apart. Acids and alkalis, oxidisers and flammable liquids, and water-reactive materials should not share a container or a bund.
• Use containers suited to the waste. A drum that held one chemical may not be suitable for another, and damaged or corroded containers leak.
• Label containers clearly with the waste description and code, and keep them closed except when filling.
• Provide secondary containment where liquids could spill, and keep the bund free of rainwater and debris.
• Separate hazardous waste from non-hazardous waste so the streams do not become mixed.

Mixing hazardous waste with non-hazardous waste can turn a manageable stream into a much larger hazardous one, and it can make the mixture harder to treat. The regulations restrict mixing of hazardous waste, so segregation is not just good practice. It protects the treatment route and the records.

Rules differ across the UK

Hazardous waste management is devolved, and the requirements are not identical in each nation. The table below sets out the main differences to check before arranging a collection.

If your sites cross a border, the rules of the nation where the waste is produced and where it is received both matter. Confirm the current requirements with the relevant regulator before you move material.

Choosing treatment and disposal routes

The route a hazardous waste takes depends on what it is and what can be recovered from it. Options include recycling and recovery, energy recovery, physico-chemical treatment, and disposal. The waste hierarchy gives priority to recovery over disposal where that is appropriate, but some hazardous wastes may require specialist treatment or disposal.

Treatment decisions turn on the waste’s properties. A solvent may be recoverable by distillation. An oily water may separate into an oil phase and an aqueous phase that need different handling. Aqueous wastes may need treatment before discharge or disposal. Contaminated soils and sludges may need testing before a route can be confirmed.

We can help with selecting routes and with the information a treatment facility needs to accept a stream. For laboratory chemicals and one-off chemical disposal, our sister site at chemicalwastedisposal.co.uk covers the specific requirements, including a guide to consignment notes.

Site-wide programmes and reviews

A single collection solves a single problem. A site-wide programme looks at every hazardous stream, how it is stored, how often it is produced, and whether the current arrangements still fit. That review often finds streams that have been mixed unnecessarily, containers that are past their best, or storage areas that have drifted out of shape.

An inventory is the starting point. It lists each waste, its source process, its approximate quantity, its classification, and its current storage. From there, storage and segregation can be planned, collection frequencies set, and records brought into a consistent format. Our waste audit page explains how a review is structured, and industrial waste disposal covers the wider disposal picture for mixed industrial sites.

Work in confined spaces such as tanks and pits needs a suitable risk assessment and safe system of work. The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 set specific duties where they apply, including planning for emergencies and using people who are competent for the work.

Records, training and day-to-day control

Good hazardous waste management depends on the people handling the waste day to day. Staff who fill containers, move drums or sign consignment notes need to understand what the labels mean and why segregation matters. Written procedures help, but they only work if the people on shift know where they are and what to do when something is unclear.

Keep the register, the classification records and the consignment notes together and accessible. Review them when processes change, because a new raw material or a changed production method can change the waste. If you are unsure whether a stream is hazardous, do not move it under an assumed classification. Arrange a proper assessment and keep the supporting record on file.