New rules on hazardous waste premises code registration

The new hazardous waste regulations will replace the special waste regulations in the UK from July 2005.

The new rules require waste to be tracked from source and as such any 'premises' that produce hazardous waste will have to register. Exemptions exist from this registration if the premises falls within certain categories and less than 200kg a year is produced, otherwise registration will be necessary by calling 08708 502858 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Alternatively online registration and guidance documents are available at www.environment-agency.gov.uk and RID can also register on your behalf. Please contact us for more details.

From July 10th 2005 RID will need a registration code or evidence of exemption before they can collect hazardous waste from premises. Hazardous waste will include monitors and TV's from this date.

The WEEE directive is just one of many directives and initiatives introduced or about to be introduced that aims to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and increase the rate of recycling. Two very important pieces of such legislation are the Landfill Directive and the Hazardous Waste Directive.

Landfill directive

The landfill directive sets out a new regulatory regime for landfill sites in Europe and actually sets targets for the reduction in landfill of up to 65% by 2020. It is implemented in the UK as the Landfill regulations 2002 and this has some major implications on the disposal of all waste including EE waste.

•  The co disposal of hazardous and non hazardous waste is banned from the 16 th July 2004 . This means any hazardous waste must go to a site designated to accept this type of waste. Practically this means that prior to the July date over 200 sites could accept such waste for Landfill and post this date only around 12 sites are licensed to accept it.

•  Certain types of waste are completely banned from Landfill. This includes tyres, liquid waste and clinical waste.

•  Pre treatment of waste is required prior to Landfill.

Under a separate directive there is a procedure for acceptance at landfill sites due for implementation by July 2005.

Hazardous Waste Directive

The hazardous waste directive whist not yet implemented in the UK re defines the waste classifications in the whole of Europe . Through the European Waste Catalogue 2002 (EWC 2002) waste is classified as either Hazardous or non hazardous and a further 200 items will be classed as hazardous. Some EE items are included in this list such as Fridges, Fluorescent Tubes and CRT glass and subsequently Computer Monitors. The co disposal ban in the landfill directive takes it's classifications from the EWC 2002.