Consultancy - Environmental Safety

Advice on and assistance with all aspects of legislative compliance

Are you managing the environmental impact of your business?

Hazardous Waste

UK and European Community environmental legislation is increasing the liability of both waste producers and managers and pushing up the cost of waste disposal.  In particular, the Duty of Care implemented by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 introduced requirements that affect all organisations that produce waste.

The Hazardous Waste Regulations impose a requirement to ensure that your waste is correctly classified into an appropriate hazard grouping. Organisations that produce hazardous wastes have to comply with these regulations, but it is important to note that all wastes have the potential to cause environmental damage if they are not correctly managed.  It is essential that Duty of Care responsibilities are fully understood and implemented, that systems to ensure compliance with the law are established, and that options to minimise both waste production and disposal costs are fully evaluated.  Most recently, the Landfill Regulations and the Hazardous Waste Directive have re-focused attention on waste management compliance issues.

Legislation is in place in the UK to ensure that the impact of releases to the ground, water and air are assessed and minimised, and that waste is disposed of through approved avenues. There may be more specific duties under other legislation, for example:

  • The Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations, 2000
  • The Environmental Protection Act, 1990
  • The Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations, 2005

What would be the impact of an environmental incident on your business?

The consequence of failing to follow waste and environmental regulations can be costly. A conviction under the Environmental Protection Act can lead to unlimited fines and up to 2 years in prison. In addition to preventing potential prosecution, active management of your waste and environmental impact can reduce your operating costs and benefit your company image.

Our Regulatory Experts can provide you help with meeting your responsibilities. We are well placed to help with classifying your waste streams and advising on any registrations and paper work that will be required.

We can help you:

  • Critically analyse the environmental impact of your business, providing recommendations for remedial action where necessary.
  • Provide advice on the reduction of waste produced by your business. 
  • Provide in-house, bespoke training for your employees.

Further information

If you would like more information, please contact the Consultancy team