Recent Environment Agency investigations into the use of waste soils on construction sites have shown that many are unable to provide evidence to demonstrate their compliance with regulations. With the resulting greater scrutiny and a number of high profile court cases, do you need to review your procedures and documentation for managing waste soils?
The Environment Agency’s campaign investigated how waste soils are classified and managed across England. Targeting construction sites holding U1 exemptions importing waste soils classified as 17 05 04 (non-hazardous soils), the EA required them to provide evidence to demonstrate the following:
- Assessment and classification of waste soil by waste producers;
- Duty of care checks by carriers collecting waste soils; and
- Effectiveness of waste acceptance checks at sites receiving waste.
The results have included several high-profile court cases and increased scrutiny during compliance inspections.
Operators of inert waste sites have been reminded of their legal obligations under their Environmental Permit or relevant exemption and, where aggregate is produced by the site, the need to:
- Meet the terms of the Aggregates from Inert Waste Quality Protocol
- Provide an accompanying Factory Production Control Manual supported by the relevant testing regime.
Increasingly, Wiser Environment is being contacted by operators of such facilities seeking assistance with responding to EA requests for amendments to their management systems and waste acceptance procedure documentation.
Don’t wait till you hear from the EA, contact us today on 01480 462 232!
