Environmental Essentials
15 Dec 2020
Yes
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Environmental Essentials

No

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A short and simple guide on Environmental matters for all managers and staff – what you need to know about environmental management in the STFC. It also applies to contractors, agency or other individuals that work on STFC sites with us. SHE codes contain additional detail and guidance and can be found on the SHE Group website.

​To see in more detail what legislative requirements STFC works to view our Environment​al Legal Register (PDF - 90kB - link opens in a new window).

CodeSummary
Environmental Management - what you can do

As part of UKRI's sustainability strategy, ​STFC is committed to ensuring high standards of environmental management and the minimisation, within the constraints set by our scientific programme, of its environmental impact.

You can help to achieve this by considering the waste hierarchy: Eliminate, Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle when using any resource.

For example:

  • Reducing energy consumption by turning off lights, computer monitors and printers, or turning the thermostat on your radiator down a little.
  • Reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill by Recycling items such as printer cartridges and paper etc.
  • Using video conferencing facilities to Eliminate the need to travel.
Disposing of waste.
(Controlled and Hazardous waste code)

STFC has a duty to store its waste securely and dispose of its waste safely and legally:

  • Use the correct disposal route for wastes such as hazardous chemicals, broken glass, electronic equipment etc.
  • Store any waste securely prior to disposal.
  • If you store any liquid waste outside a building it should be in a bund ('tray').
  • Disposal of radioactive waste should be discussed with your site Radioactive Waste Advisor (link opens in a new window) ​before disposal.
  • If you need to move waste around or between STFC sites obtain advice from the SHE group.
Controlling Pollution to Air, Land and Water

STFC is required to control what we discharge to local sewers, local waterways or the atmosphere.

If you need to discharge significant volumes of any chemical down a sink or drain or to atmosphere you should check with the local SHE Group that we have authorisation​ to do this.
If you need to discharge significant volumes of any chemical down a sink or drain or to atmosphere you should check with the local SHE Group that we have authorisation to do this.
Environmental Risk Management

Environmental issues and hazards should be included and considered alongside general Health and Safety hazards in undertaking a SHE Risk Assessment.

Additional environmental issues which should be considered in any assessment include:

  • What to do in the event of a spill;
  • Check for relevant discharge authorisations (see above) if you need to vent gases to air or discharge any liquid to a drain;
  • Maintain equipment to minimise any of these discharges; and
  • Should stored liquids be bunded?

Contact: SHE Web Administrator