Hazardous Waste Regulations
The UK has very stringent regulations in relation to the disposal of chemical wastes. Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations there are literally thousands of products in daily use throughout the UK both in places of work and in the home that are deemed to be hazardous waste.
Most organisations in the UK will have such products on their premises or site and quite often these products have been stored away for more than the legal timeframe. The law dictates that all products deemed hazardous are stored correctly and disposed of in the appropriate manner. Most often a third party waste management company will be used to ensure the disposal is licensed and the relevant waste transfer notes and documentation is in place.
Under current UK regulations any person or organisation that does not store or dispose of hazardous waste and chemical waste correctly is liable to a large fine. There is generally a shelf lifetime limit for the storage of such products and Chemastic can advise on specific products.
If products are found to have been stored at a site for longer than this, then the fine can run into thousands of pounds, and they must still be disposed of. Large fines are also possible where hazardous waste or chemicals are disposed of to a location that is not covered by UK regulations.
Chemastic recommend that all organisations take the time to understand what is on their site and what their responsibilities are for the removal of anything deemed out of date. We are happy to provide site visits and advice leading to disposal in an accredited and controlled manner.
Chemastic is an accredited company and can collect and dispose of hazardous waste and chemicals across England, Wales, and Scotland. We have processes designed to meet with the UK regulations for the disposal of hazardous waste.
You can read what the Environment Agency has to say using the following link: https://www.gov.uk/dispose-hazardous-waste
Chemastic will safely dispose of the following products that fall under COSHH regulations:
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Chemical waste
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Environmental waste
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Plastics
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Aerosols
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Solvents
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Paints – spray, acrylic, and lead
Chemastic’s waste collection service and advice ensure that your organisation knows the current legal position for storing and disposing of chemical materials held on your site. We strive to reduce the potential risk of large fines and the negative environmental impact that can occur by incorrect storage and disposal of chemical materials.
As can be noted from the above list, even everyday products such as paints, aerosols, and solvents, can be classed as hazardous. Paint disposal, disposal of plastics and removal of aerosols are becoming much sought-after services as organisations are learning of the nature of such products as hazardous waste that requires controlled disposal.
If you are in any doubt about what constitutes hazardous or chemical waste, please contact Chemastic today to discuss what you have and how it needs to be legally and safely disposed of.
