Pre-treatment of waste

Treatment of Non-Hazardous Waste to Landfill

 

Summary

Stemming from the Landfill Directive, this requirement aims to reduce reliance on landfill as a waste management option. Many wastes currently landfilled are already treated beforehand and therefore already comply with the law. Even in these cases it is still good practice to consider if there are cost-effective ways to increase the amount of waste that is recovered and hence not sent for landfill.

Waste producers have a choice to treat the waste themselves or to ensure treatment elsewhere prior to going to landfill, e.g. a waste contractor. Treatment is defined as a physical, thermal, chemical or biological process, which changes the characteristics of the waste.

Examples of treatment include: 

  • collecting waste streams separately to recycle one or more of the separated components
  • biological treatment such as composting or anaerobic digestion
  • thermal treatment such as incineration.

 

 

Implications

Builders are required to ensure that the waste produced on site is either treated on site or by another body prior to being sent to landfill. This of course has a cost associated and as such aims to encourage the avoidance of waste generation and increase reuse and recovery of materials.

 

Overlaps

The requirements set out here directly overlap with those requirements of the aforementioned Duty of care regulations. Furthermore, the good practice involved in adhering to these requirements link in with the practices of maintaining site waste management plans

 

Opportunities

The segregation of waste materials will increase the potential to reuse or recover these materials, diverting them from landfill and potentially generating revenue for the company. The potential increase in cost to have this waste treated, either on site or by another body, is hoped to encourage construction companies to reduce the volumes of waste being generated and to find alternative routes for unwanted materials.

 

Guidance

The Environment Agency provides answers to FAQ's and some background on the legislation at:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/faq_signoff__1796497.pdf

 

They also provide a general guidance document on your responsibilities at:

http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/GEHO0207BLWJ-e-e.pdf

 

SEPA also have a Scotland specific guidance document which is available on thier website at:

 http://www.sepa.org.uk/pdf/guidance/landfill_directive/Pretreatment_guidance.pdf