Are you meeting Duty of Care? Amenity
We are all aware of our responsibilities under the latest waste regulations ... or are we?
The Hazardous Waste Regulations came into effect in July 2005 and required all producers of Hazardous Waste to register with the Environment Agency (EA). We will assume that all concerned will have registered and obtained their ‘Premises Code’ and that you are renewing registrations annually. Your waste management company, on your behalf, often does this.
If your business produces Hazardous Waste (and every greenkeeping / grounds maintenance department does), you also have a ‘Duty of Care’ to ensure that it is properly disposed of. This means selecting a waste management company you know you can trust, who will operate your service efficiently with trained personnel, providing correct and approved waste containers, audit trails and full certification and Consignment Notes. (Consignment Notes must accompany hazardous waste when it is removed from your premises. The responsibility for ensuring Part A and B of these notes are completed correctly, rests with you). You may prefer, as most do, to allow your waste management provider to complete the documentation for you.
With the introduction of the Hazardous Waste Regulations came the introduction of items not included in the previous regulations (Special Waste Regulations) and those incorporated in the European Waste Catalogue (Hazardous Waste is defined on the basis of this list) and these include, for example; fluorescent tubes, batteries, aerosols, paints, varnishes and solvents, waste oils (including biodegradable and synthetic) and fuels, end of life tyres, CFC’s and electronic items. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 (WEEE) is due for
implementation on 1st July of this year and a number of responsible waste
management companies have prepared for this, some already operating collection services. There are ten categories of WEEE included in Schedule 1 of this legislation, covering amongst others; toys, IT equipment, household appliances and lighting. The list of products under each category is huge
but examples include; TVs and monitors, computers, fridges, microwaves, radios and phones, printers, and fax machines. The Act and the schedule in full can be seen at
www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2006/uk si_20063289_en.pdf and see this link for further information regarding hazardous waste; www.environment-
agency.gov.uk/subjects/waste/ 1019330/1217981/
It may be an idea to review your current waste disposal arrangements to satisfy yourself that you are meeting your ‘Duty of Care’ requirements and fully complying with legal demands. The following 9- point ‘check list’ may prove helpful;
1. Are we registered with the EA as producers of Hazardous Waste and know our “premises code”?
2. Is my waste service provider fully licensed and do they operate the service themselves?
3. Does my waste service provider have recycling facilities or take my waste to be recycled or does my waste go mainly to landfill and / or incineration?
4. Does my waste service provider supply us with five 200 litre UN approved containers, properly labelled for;
• waste oil,
• waste chemical packaging, • waste filters, • waste aerosols,
• workshop waste. (Remember hazardous waste can no longer be mixed)?
5. Are my containers changed for clean ones at each collection?
6.Do I have a dated certificate from my waste service provider showing their EA registration number?
7. Is my waste service provider happy to collect and replace any or all of my containers frequently, or am I made to wait until I have accumulated too much waste? (Some will not take away less than 600 litres of waste oil for example)
8.What annual fee am I paying and is this value for money?
Forum ... sets high standards for specifying weed control contracts
NEW guidance from the Amenity Forum will help those responsible for specifying weed control contracts achieve both best practice and best value while ensuring the public, the environment and surrounding water are protected.
The first of the Forum’s ‘Best Practice Guidance Notes’ spells out best practice in specification of weed control contracts.
9. Is my waste service provider able to collect WEEE items and arrange other ‘one off ’ special collections of tyres or fluorescent tubes for example?
Recycling? Responsible operators will recycle, as does my own company, for example, recycling over 90% of the waste we collect. One example is the many thousands of plastic containers that are processed in a huge machine that chops the product into small plastic chips that then go on to be moulded into useful rot-proof items such as fence posts, seating, sleepers etc., that can be used on golf courses and at leisure and amenity sites.
It is important to recycle as much as possible and reduce dramatically as much landfill as is possible. Metals, plastics, paper, oil and more can all be recycled. Landfill costs are rising fast and, as a result, some waste operators are reducing the number of collections and / or putting up their prices! Apart from hazardous waste, which must be handled by the experts, many items from around the course can be composted rather than treated as waste. Twigs, small branches, grass clippings, cardboard (the pro's shop has vast quantities!), leaves and green kitchen waste can be processed in an appropriate machine to produce windrows.
The way forward for us all is to take environmental responsibilities seriously and actively seek ways to reduce waste and recycle, protecting our children’s and grandchildren's inheritance.
With thanks to David Mears, Joint Managing Director of Course Care who operate a licensed Waste Transfer Station (licence no. EAWML/65417).
Email:
info@highspeed.co.uk
“A weed control specification for contracted works is a crucial document prepared by the client,” explains Jon Allbutt, Chairman of the Amenity Forum. “It should clearly define the job and set out the standards required to fulfil the contract. Throughout the process it should set a standard by which the work itself can be assessed. Client managers will not only ensure the work achieves effective weed control, but also that it complies with the levels of stewardship that are now demanded whenever pesticides are applied.”
“Furthermore, following this Best Practice Guidance will help the whole industry raise its standards. This must be achieved to maintain reputation and avoid prosecutions.”
Adequate training and qualifications are an essential part of the Amenity Forum’s new guidance which points out that contractors should belong to professional bodies, eg National Association of Agricultural Contractors or an assurance scheme, eg BASIS Advanced Certification Scheme. In addition, key staff, from manager to operatives should have the recognised BASIS or NPTC qualifications.
“It is no longer adequate to choose the cheapest contractor for a job,”says Jon. “Authorities must award contracts on the basis that materials will be applied by suitably qualified personnel from firms with procedures in place to address issues such as disposal of unused material, handling emergencies, and safe transport and storage.”
Full details of the new Guidance Note can be obtained from the website
www.amenity.org.uk in the Amenity Forum information section.
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