Many organisations are unaware of how waste impacts their bottom line. The EU Waste Framework Directive outlines 5 core steps for dealing with waste and when ranked according their environmental impact, they make up the ‘waste hierarchy’.
With an increase in demand for resources and increasing input costs, businesses could benefit substantially from adopting the waste hierarchy.
The stages are as follows:
- Prevention: this includes reduction in materials in design and manufacture, retention of products for longer, re-use and using less hazardous materials
- Preparing for re-use : this includes cleaning, repairing, refurbishing whole items / spare parts
- Recycling: creating new substances or products from waste. The term ‘recycling’ includes composting if the product meets the Quality Protocols
- Other recovery : energy from waste, anaerobic digestion, gasification etc
- Disposal : waste materials sent to landfill or incineration without energy recovery
The Environment Agency has published its latest update on Environmental management – collection Quality Protocols (QPs) which clarify when Waste Derived Material becomes regarded as a ‘non-waste product’ and therefore, no longer required to be regulated as waste.
The Frameworks explain how to achieve ‘end-of-waste’ status for certain waste derived materials. The purpose of the QPs is to produce high quality products from waste materials to encourage greater recovery and recycling.
Details on waste controls, moving the end product and the environmental regulators can be found in the Environment Agency’s ‘Quality Protocols rules for all QPs guidance document’.
The guidance document covers:
- Waste management control rules
- Non-waste product rules
- Imports and exports
- Updating the QP
- Environmental regulators
Quality Protocols are voluntary end of waste frameworks for specific wastes and end uses based upon the relevant end of waste case law. The Environment Agency QP documents for each of the non-waste products are available to download here.
For more information about the Waste Hierarchy, click here.
To find out more about The Waste Hierarchy, Waste Compliance and Legislative Change, visit www.gptwaste.com
GPT Waste Management Limited is a partner of choice. As the UK’s largest independent provider of waste management solutions across the UK, GPT Waste provides sustainable waste services for its clients. With over 300 service providers located nationally GPT deliver a fully compliant service for all trade, commercial, confidential, hazardous, healthcare, food and construction waste, whilst delivering client specific focussed efficiencies, whist adhering to the waste hierarchy and current legislation.
Certification, Legislation and Compliance:
- QMS ISO 9001 and EMS ISO 14001
- Member of the Waste Facility Auditors Association (WFAA)
- Chartered institute Waste Management – Corporate Member
- SAFE contractor Registered
- Working Buildings 2009 Innovation Awards: Best Innovation in FM
- Green Apple Award Winners 2012.
GPT Waste Management is also an active corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Waste Management, Envirolink, and Waste Facilities Auditors Association.
To discuss your waste and resource management requirements or to speak to a Chartered Waste Manager, call GPT Waste on 0844 854 5000 or email here.
