Do I Need to Register as a Hazardous Waste Producer to Have My Waste Collected?
Managing waste is a critical responsibility for all businesses, and ensuring that it is stored, transported and disposed of correctly and in line with current legal requirements is a key part of this. One of the main questions many businesses have regarding this is what it means to register as a hazardous waste producer and if they need to do it.
What is classed as hazardous waste?
Hazardous waste includes any materials that cause a threat to human health or the environment if not handled safely or correctly, this can include items such as:
- Waste oils
- Contaminated rags and absorbents
- Solvents and other chemicals
- Paints and varnishes
- Batteries
Any business generating such waste must be aware of the regulations specific to their region and follow them as such.
What does it mean to register as a hazardous waste producer?
Registering as a hazardous waste producer means notifying the relevant environmental body that your business generates hazardous waste, this helps to track the waste from production to disposal. When registered, your business will be assigned a unique premise code that must be used on all consignment notes when waste is transferred.
Who needs to register as a hazardous waste producer?
The requirement to register as a hazardous waste producer varies between countries, as of 2016 it’s no longer required for businesses in England and Scotland to register with the Environment Agency and SEPA respectively, but they should still follow regulations of correctly storing and disposing of waste and ensuring they have the correct paperwork for every collection.
In Wales, it’s still required for businesses to register with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) when they produce over 500 kg of hazardous waste in any 12-month period. Registrations last for one year and must be renewed annually either online or via phone with NRW, once registered you will be given a 6-digit premise code, and your site will be listed on the hazardous waste public register.
Without this code, we are unable to collect any waste oil or other hazardous waste from sites in Wales, and failure to comply with these regulations is a breach of the law that can result in hefty fines or legal action.