UK – hazwaste regulations intended to improve tracking

New Hazardous Waste Regulations for England have been laid in Parliament introducing new and simpler procedures for tracking the movement of hazardous waste. The new regulations replace the Special Waste Regulations 1996 in England and fully meet the requirements of the European Hazardous Waste Directive.



Commenting on the progress made, Environment Minister, Elliot Morley said:



"The Hazardous Waste Regulations come in to force for the purposes of premises notification on the 16 April. The full requirements of the Regulations come into force on 16 July and the Environment Agency will be able to accept electronic notifications from the 3 May. Experience of the Special Waste Regulations since 1996 has enabled us to make improvements, both to streamline the controls in the interests of better regulation but also to ensure that the Hazardous Waste Directive requirements are more effectively implemented, and that the environment is fully safeguarded."



The Regulations remove the current need to pre-notify the Environment Agency before hazardous waste can be moved off site, and include a simpler method for tracking wastes once they have been moved. They include a new system to ensure that certain sites where hazardous waste is produced are notified to the Environment Agency. This will improve the whole regulation of the hazardous waste chain from source site to waste site.



Mr Morley added: "By providing a streamlined tracking system with site notification, these new Regulations will allow the Environment Agency to focus even more on tackling hazardous waste at source, to provide advice and guidance to hazardous waste producers, and target those that do not comply with environmental requirements.



It was proposed some time ago that the Regulations come into force on 16 July 2005 which will coincide with the implementation of Waste Acceptance Criteria for landfill sites