IN ASSOCIATION WITH
INVASIVE WEEDS
and transporting contaminated material and
plant cuttings.
ENVIRONMENTAL
invasive weeds like Japanese knotweed, giant
hogweed and Himalayan balsam are becoming
MANAGEMENT
a major problem in the uK. they spread rapidly, Duty of care
Tangible benefits for businesses
kill native species, take years to get rid of and Know your waste responsibilities
environmental management systems
are a builder’s nightmare. netRegs.gov.uk can as a business, you have a duty to ensure that
(eMS) and environmental reports can
help you understand how to identify and tackle
any waste you produce is handled safely and improve your business’s environmental
these tough weeds.
within the law. this is your ‘duty of care’. it applies performance and deliver significant
to anyone who produces, imports, transports, benefits to your bottom line.
Japanese knotweed
stores, treats or disposes of controlled waste large organisations often require
Japanese knotweed does not spread from
from business or industry. Commercial, suppliers and contractors to prove that they
seeds. it is spread when small pieces of the
industrial and household wastes (including comply with environmental legislation. You
plant or its roots are broken off. one piece
hazardous/special wastes) are classified as can use eMS and environmental reports to
of root the size of a fingernail can produce a ‘controlled waste’. the duty of care also applies
show that you comply.
new plant. to anyone that acts as a waste broker.
Pieces of plant or roots can be transported to You must check that anyone that you pass
Why report on environmental
a new location by: your waste on to is authorised to take it. if you
performance?
n the wind, particularly along roads and railways don’t check that they are authorised to take your
Having an environmental management
n water, if the parent plant is close to a river waste and it is illegally disposed of, you could be
system (eMS) is not a legal requirement
or stream held responsible.
for businesses. However, eMSs and
n moving contaminated soil.
environmental reporting can make it
People you pass your waste on to include:
easier for your business to comply with
individual plants can cover several square
n waste contractors
environmental legislation. an environmental
metres of land, joined up below ground by an
n scrap metal merchants
report will increase awareness of your
extensive network of roots. because of this,
n recycling companies
current performance levels, both amongst
many herbicides and other chemicals will
n your local council
staff and customers.
not kill off this plant. even if the plant seems
n skip hire companies.
to be dying back at the surface, below
What you can do
ground the root network may be intact and
the duty of care has no time limit. it extends until
To implement an EMS there a number
able to produce more new growth soon
the waste has either been finally disposed of or
of things you must do. For example, you
after treatment.
fully recovered.
need to:
n produce an environmental policy
Giant hogweed
What you must do
n identify and monitor your environmental
Giant hogweed produces large, umbrella-like
impacts, e.g. through environmental
As a business waste producer you must
flowers, each of which can produce up to
auditing
ensure that:
50,000 seeds.
n set measurable targets to continually
n you store and dispose of all your waste
The seeds are heavy and fall within a few
improve your environmental performance
responsibly
metres of the parent plant. Seeds can be
n review your eMS regularly
n your waste is only handled or dealt with by
transported by:
n keep environmental records and reports
n
authorised people or businesses
vehicles, particularly along roads and railways
n provide environmental awareness training
n
n you keep records of all waste that you
water, if the parent plant is close to a river or
for your staff.
transfer or receive for at least two years.
stream
n produce a directory of the
n moving contaminated soil.
environmental legislation your business
You have a responsibility to
must comply with.
the seeds can remain dormant in the soil
n Stop anyone storing, disposing of or
Benefits of having an EMS
for several years. even if you treat the plants recovering your waste unless they have an An EMS can benefit your business in many
with herbicides and they die, several thousand environmental permit (england and Wales), a ways. For example an EMS could help you:
seeds are waiting in the ground below for the waste management licence (northern ireland n minimise your environmental liabilities
opportunity to take their place. in addition, giant and Scotland), or an exemption. Check their n maximise the efficient use of resources
hogweed contains sap that is released when the permit, licence or exemption to make sure and make your business more efficient
plant is cut or by brushing against the plant. that they are within its conditions. n reduce your waste
n Package all waste materials appropriately and n demonstrate a good corporate image
What you must do
robustly to stop them escaping from your, or n build awareness of environmental issues
If you have Japanese knotweed, giant
anyone else’s, control. among your employees.
hogweed or Himalayan balsam on land that
n ensure that your waste is only transferred to
you own or occupy, you:
a person or business authorised to deal with
Save your business money
n must not allow Japanese knotweed or giant
your particular type of waste.
environmental reporting encourages better
hogweed to spread onto adjacent land; the
n ensure that the waste being transferred is
resource management, and more efficient
owner of that land could take legal action
accompanied by a written description that will
energy use.
against you
enable anyone receiving it to dispose of it or
in addition, if you monitor your use of
n must not plant or encourage the spread of handle it safely and appropriately.
resources, such as raw materials, packaging
Japanese knotweed or giant hogweed; this
and water, you can save on purchasing and
can include moving contaminated soil from n See the Waste Directory on netRegs.gov.uk
disposal costs.
one place to another, or incorrectly handling to find an authorised waste contractor near you.
SuStainable SolutionS December/January 2009 15
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