Reduce, reuse, recycle!

Does your business produce or handle waste? If yes, you need to apply the waste hierarchy to your waste?

From today (28th September), whenever you pass waste on to someone else, you must declare on your waste transfer note or hazardous waste consignment note that you have applied the waste management hierarchy.

All businesses produce waste and most types of business waste are classed as controlled waste. Controlled waste includes commercial, industrial and household waste.  You have a legal responsibility to ensure that you produce, store, transport and dispose of controlled waste without harming the environment. This is called your duty of care. In practical terms this means that when controlled waste is removed from your premises you must ensure:

1. That your waste is transported and handled by people or businesses that are authorized to do so,
2. That waste transfer notes are completed and document all waste you transfer,.

Waste transfer notes and consignment notes must be completed before waste is removed from your premises and from 28th September your business will need to answer an additional question: Has the business applied the waste management hierarchy?

What is the waste management hierarchy?

The waste hierarchy identifies waste disposal options and ranks them in order of increasing environmental impact.  All companies should aim to eliminate waste from the onset, but if this is not practical or possible, then consider reducing, re-using or recycling your waste. If none of these steps apply, then dispose of waste in a responsible manner.

Best of all, applying the waste management hierarchy can save your business money!