How To Dispose Of Hazardous Waste

Identifying Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste refers to any product that is harmful to humans or the environment, or any product that is made up of any elements that are harmful. Examples of hazardous waste include

• Chemicals (examples: chlorine, printer ink, brake fluid, industrial cleaners)
• Asbestos
• Solvents (examples: paints, aerosols)
• Pesticides
• Batteries
• Inedible oils (example: car oil)
• Any electrical equipment that contains substances that deplete the ozone layer (examples: refrigerator, freezer, air conditioning unit)
• Hazardous waste containers

As a general rule, anything that is toxic, corrosive or flammable is usually considered hazardous waste.

Classifying Your Waste: What To Include

Hazardous waste must be classified before it is disposed of - this is part of your duty of care. You are obliged to fill out the following information in your classification description:

• Waste classification code (We’ve included some of the more commonly used codes)
• Confirmation that the waste is hazardous
• Type of business where the waste was produced
• Name of the hazardous waste/substance
• The production process
• A chemical and physical description
• Any special circumstances

List of Waste Codes

• Construction & Demolition Waste

  17-06-01 - Insulation containing asbestos

  17-06-03 - Insulation containing other hazardous substances

  17-06-05 - Other construction materials containing asbestos

  17-01-06 - Concrete, bricks, tiles or ceramics containing hazardous substances

  17-08-01 - Gypsum materials containing hazardous substances

  17-09-03 - Unused cement

• Wood, Glass & Plastic

  17-02-04 - Treated wood, glass or plastic containing hazardous substances

• Metallic Waste

  17-04-09 - Metallics containing hazardous substances

  17-04-10 - Cables containing hazardous substances

• Contaminated Soil

  17-05-03 - Soil or stone containing hazardous substances

  17-05-05 - Dredging spoil containing hazardous substances

• Paints

  08-01-21 - Paint or varnish remover

  20-01-27 - Paint Tins

• Packaging

  15-01-10 - Empty containers that contained hazardous materials

  14-06-03 - Aerosols

• Industrial Batteries

  16-06-01 - Lead acid

  16-06-02 - Nickel-cadmium

  16-06-03 - Batteries containing mercury

• Industrial Light Bulbs

  16-02-13 - Fluorescent tubes and low energy bulbs

  20-01-27 - Mastic tubes

  20-01-21 - Fluorescent tubes

• Electricals

  20-01-35 - Laptops, computers, tablets, mobile phones, flatscreens

  20-01-35 - Monitors

• White Goods

  16-02-11 - Industrial coolants with ozone depleting substances

  16-02-13 - White goods with hazardous components

  20-01-23 - Fridges

• Vehicle Fluids

  13-07-01 - Fuel oil or diesel

  13-07-02 - Petrol

  16-01-13 - Brake fluids

  16-01-14 - Antifreeze

  15-02-02 - Oily contaminants

  13-02-05 - Oil

• 20-01-36 - Mixed WEEE (Non-Hazardous)

Disposing & Storing Of Hazardous Waste

Your hazardous waste must be stored separately from general waste and correctly disposed of. It is best to use an authorised business to collect and dispose of/recycle your waste in the correct manner. This protects your business from inadvertently breaking the laws and regulations regarding hazardous waste disposal, and thus prevents you from being penalised.

Tips For Storing Your Hazardous Waste:

• Store different types of hazardous waste separately
• Use suitable containers to prevent waste escaping or being spilled
• Label any container containing hazardous waste clearly
• Use waterproof containers if rain could cause hazardous run-off
• Store hazardous waste away from potential fire sources

Unless you have a licence, hazardous waste must be removed from the site within 12 months.

Recording Your Hazardous Waste

You must keep a record of your copies of:

• Consignment notes (A form you fill in when moving hazardous waste, usually filled in by yourself and your disposal company)
• Waste Transfer Notes
• Any other related documents

Keeping these records will allow your business to prove that you have been abiding by all of the relevant laws and legislations when handling your hazardous waste.