The introduction of the new Hazardous Waste Regulations in July last year, upgraded a number of waste products, such as fluorescent and sodium lamps, computer monitors and TVs, to hazardous waste.
East Anglia firm Recyclite says that the Hazardous Waste Regulation 2005 Consignment Note is the essential record in the movement of hazardous waste from the producer through to final reprocessing. Under the regulations, hospitals can no longer dispose of these lamps along with general waste. To do so is illegal, and leaves the organisation open to fines of up to £5,000 in the courts and £300 on the spot.
All producers are now required to register annually with the Environment Agency before they can onwardly consign end-of-life lamps or other hazardous waste. The regulations also cover crushing on site, whether by an outside contractor or with the site’s own equipment.
The most critical piece of documentation from the waste producer’s point of view is the Hazardous Waste Consignment Note for each movement. It is this note that effectively transfers the producer’s responsibility for disposal of the waste to a third party, and provides onward accountability for the waste producer as required under the new regulations.
