LAWR

WASTE REMOVAL The legal implications of waste removal Any project, from landscaping jobs to small-scale home extensions create large amounts of waste material which must be disposed of safely and legally. If this isn't completed satisfactorily, it is ultimately the homeowner, and therefore the reputa- tion of the contractor, which is at stake. John Leader, head of waste solutions at Travis Perkins Hire, discusses the legal implications of hiring skips and the correct procedures for removing waste. here is a growing pres- sure within the build- ing industry to exam- ine protocol around waste management, which despite being regulated are not being stringently policed. According to the Environment Agency, local authori- ties dealt with more than 711,000 inci- dents of fly-tipping in 2012/13 which cost £36.4m to resolve, initiating 2,200 prosecutions. Tighter control would not only support the efforts to stamp out fly-tipping whilst encouraging an uptake in recycling, but would generally improve the image of waste removal practices; for example, discouraging the temptation for people to put items into a skip as they pass, which ultimately takes up space which the homeowner is paying for. Skip hire does require a license in the UK but clearer communication about what this means for householders and why it is required would strengthen the underlying regulations. For instance, many are still surprised to learn that the homeowner is libel if the waste is disposed of incorrectly.The market is further complicated with 1,000 waste management facilities closing a year due to a breach of legal requirements, often due to not having the correct Environmental Permit in place. When hiring a waste removal solu- tion, it's vital that the contractor enquires about the waste carrier license and receives a completed waste transfer note. This should outline the waste to be removed and where it is being disposed of. For a business, there is a two year requirement to keep this docu- mentation. The Environment Agency now offers the option of an e-document to make it even easier to maintain the required proof. There are guidelines regarding what can go into general waste skips and how different types of material should be segregated and stored. Aerosols, chemicals, and light bulbs for example, would be considered hazardous waste and as such need segregating from gen- eral waste. Sites will charge a hazardous waste disposal charge if not declared, so it makes sense to go straight to a suppli- er who can provide the right containers in the first place, whilst providing the reassurance of being fully compliant. If the right license for hazardous waste isn't in place, the waste can end up straight back on the doorstep of the homeowner. This more challeng- ing removal, with all of the correct documentation in place, is the reason why these more specialist solutions can cost slightly more. However, security against fines, the right solution for the environment, and the protection of a contractor's reputation is worth the higher cost of selecting the correct skip and removal method. There are number of other factors which can impact on the cost of skip such as the postcode, skip location and whether a road permit is required. There are associated risks for the hire provider, especially if the waste is described of incorrectly. Reputation is vital for a merchant such as Travis Perkins, which means there is the addi- tional intention to go the extra mile to maintain its standing as a trusted supplier. The Travis Perkins Hire service and its waste management solutions has been developed to specifically offer this level of reassurance as a fully compliant supplier in addition to service benefit such as central management through a single call-centre. The challenge that the majority of contractors face is finding a solution that disposes of all sorts of waste, cheap- ly and compliantly. The huge public cost of fly-tipping and its resulting pros- ecution numbers reiterates the need for simple and affordable solutions. The Environment Agency is working hard to reinforce messages of how to comply but the industry and merchants such as Travis Perkins also need to provide support and advice, as well as providing waste management solutions. T June 2014 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 7 John Leader is head of waste solutions at Travis Perkins Hire.

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