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 BiteSized SHE​

Contents

• 1. Purpose​
  
• 2. Scope
  
• 3. Definitions
• 4. Responsibilities
  
  • 4.1 Director responsible for SHE
  • 4.2 STFC Environment Officer
  • 4.3 Directors
  • 4.4 Staff and others generating waste
  • 4.5 Waste disposal officers
• 5. References
  
• Appendices
  
  • Appendix 1 - Waste disposal process flowchart
    
  • Appendix 2 - Training
    
  • Appendix 3 - Waste disposal procedure and waste disposal form
  • Appendix 4 - Completing hazardous waste consignment notes
  • Appendix 5 - Audit checklist
  • Appendix 6 - Duty of Care checklists
  • Appendix 7 - Document Retention Policy

Revisions

1. Purpose

The STFC Environment Policy makes it clear that the disposal of waste should be considered to be an act of last resort and that, in priority order, alternatives such as avoiding the creation or minimising the generation of wastes and re-using or recycling waste should be considered when planning work or projects.

All waste materials or equipment generated by the STFC is subject to legislative controls as Controlled Waste. In addition some waste may be classified as Hazardous Waste for example: waste chemicals; batteries; food; waste electrical or electronic equipment; and hazardous gases and liquids.

The STFC has a Duty of Care to ensure that all waste is safe and secure whilst it is on any STFC site and disposed of only through authorised channels. This duty extends to the point where the waste is finally disposed of and includes responsibility for its safe transport from the site to the point of disposal. The use of licensed waste disposal contractors does not remove this responsibility from the STFC.

This code outlines the controls that are employed to ensure that Controlled and Hazardous wastes are disposed of safely and in an environmentally responsible manner and in accordance with relevant legislation, including the:

• Health & Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974;
• Environmental Protection Act 1990;
• Controlled Waste Regulations 1992;
• Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005, as amended 2016;
• Special Waste (Scotland) Regulations 1996, as amended 2004;
• The European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR);
• Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2009; and
• The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009.

Appendix 1​ provides a summary of the waste disposal process.

As UKRI is the legal entity under which STFC operates, waste management activities that require regulatory permits or licenses will be sought and managed by UKRI with STFC support.

2. Scope

The code shall apply wherever STFC activities (including those of staff and facility users, visitors, contractors and tenants on STFC sites), require the safe collection, transport, handling, storage, recycling and disposal of waste or scrap materials (for example scrap metal).

Facility Users, Visitors, Contractors and Tenants shall be responsible for the removal from STFC sites of any hazardous waste they generate (including facility user samples) however the STFC should satisfy itself that their management of this is in accord with this code.

Contractors and Tenants may contract with the STFC for the removal of other controlled waste, such as general office waste, that they may generate. The STFC will ensure that it holds a Brokers licence to facilitate this.

The code does not apply to the safe handling, collection, transport, storage and disposal of the following specific waste(s):

• Asbestos management, see STFC Code 35
• Radioactive materials; see STFC Code 21 - If any wastes are suspected of being radioactive Radiation Protection Advisor's advice must be obtained.
• Atmospheric and aqueous discharges.

Furthermore the code does not address the carriage of dangerous goods that are not defined as waste; see STFC​ Code 27.

3 Definitions​

3.1 Controlled Waste

For the purposes of this code ALL waste generated by the STFC is Controlled Waste.

3.2 Hazardous waste

Hazardous Wastes are Controlled Wastes that are considered a hazard to human health or the environment because they contain dangerous substances. In Scotland the term, Special Waste, is used. A waste is deemed hazardous if it is described as such in the European Waste Catalogue (EWC). Some types of waste are hazardous outright, whilst others depend on the fraction of dangerous substance above threshold concentrations. All waste is potentially harmful but it is defined as hazardous if, for example, it is highly flammable, toxic or carcinogenic.

3.3 Controlled Waste Transfer Note 

Controlled Waste Transfer Note (CWTN) is a legally required document, generated by the Environment Agency (EA), to control the transfer of waste between sites via public highways and must be carried by the contractor transporting the waste.

3.4 Hazardous waste consignment note

The following table provides some examples:

3.5 Waste control point

3.6 Waste Disposal Officer

Waste Disposal Officers (WDO) are responsible for the coordination of the collection and disposal of the wastes from defined STFC WCPs and provide an interface with approved waste disposal contractors. Waste Disposal Officers may be appointed at a site level or, where there is sufficient demand on a given site, at Departmental level.

4 Responsibilities

4.1 Director responsible for SHE shall:

• 4.1.1 Appoint an STFC Environment Officer with sufficient resource and time to undertake the duties described in this code, ensuring the appointment is recorded in the STFC SHE Directory, which will generate an appointment in writing.
  
  4.1.1 Appoint an STFC Environment Officer with sufficient resource and time to undertake the duties described in this code, ensuring the appointment is recorded.
  
  
• 4.1.2 Where a Waste Disposal Officer is appointed at a site level, undertake the responsibilities given in 4.3.1

4.2 STFC Environment Officer shall:

• 4.2.1 ​As UKRI are now the legal entity with regard to environmental licenses and permits, the STFC Environment Officer will support and assist UKRI in respect to the management of environmental licenses and permits supporting STFC operations.
  
  
• 4.2.2 Ensure unique 6 character Hazardous Waste codes are generated and communicated to all Waste Disposal Officers for each site.(1) 
  
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• 4.2.3 Provide advice on the application of this code, including advice to Directors on the selection, appointment and training of Waste Disposal Officers.
  
  
• 4.2.4 Ensure all correspondence and communication relating to waste management and disposal with the Environment Agency is routed through the SHE Group.
  
  
• 4.2.5 Collate overall STFC waste statistics and write an annual report for the STFC SHE Management committee.
  

4.3 ​Directors shall:

• 4.3.1 Ensure a suitable number of competent Waste Disposal Officers are trained and appointed for defined areas of responsibility within their Department maintaining a documented record of their appointment and ensuring those appointed are recorded in the STFC SHE Directory, which will generate an appointment in writing​. Competency shall be based on experience and the training detailed in Appendix 2.
  4.3.1 Ensure a suitable number of competent Waste Disposal Officers are trained and appointed for defined areas of responsibility within their Department maintaining a documented record of their appointment and ensuring those appointed are recorded. Competency shall be based on experience and the training detailed in Appendix 2.
  
  
  
• 4.3.2 On an annual basis, review the waste arising from their Department's activities and consider the scope for waste elimination, minimisation, re-use, re-cycling or disposal reporting this through Departmental SHE Improvement Plans, see STFC SHE Code 7, SHE Improvement Planning.
  
  
• 4.3.3 Pro actively ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibilities for managing waste in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner.

4.4 Staff and other generating waste shall:

• 4.4.1 Endeavour to minimise the creation of all wastes, in particular hazardous wastes, by prior consideration of the waste that may arise from projects or work activities.
  
  
• 4.4.2 Ensure that where disposal routes have been established for specific wastes, for example: waste oils; printer cartridges; fluorescent tubes they are employed. See STFC SHE website.
  
  
• 4.4.3 Supply all relevant information to the Waste Disposal Officer (see Appendix 3 for details and suggested Waste Disposal Form). If requested by the WDO, the waste holder should provide relevant Safety Data Sheets (SDS), COSHH and manual handling assessments. Those generating waste must make every reasonable effort to identify the waste they have before contacting a Waste Disposal Officer.
  
  
• 4.4.4 Ensure that the waste is properly packaged and labelled (including hazard labels), and ensure that all waste(s) are securely and safely stored in a clean area while awaiting disposal, if it is not re-located to a WCP. Waste Disposal Officers may require the waste to be repackaged if they determine that it is not in an adequate condition for transport and disposal.

4.5 Waste Disposal Officers shall:

• 4.5.1 Pro actively ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibilities for managing waste in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner and provide the first point of contact for advice for members of staff, tenants or facility users who have generated or found wastes for disposal.
  
  
• 4.5.2 Prior to engaging a waste contractor (waste carrier or waste disposer) or at 5 yearly intervals thereafter, assess their suitability by undertaking a duty of care audit with the assistance of the STFC Environment Officer. Appendix 6 contains template documents for undertaking duty of care audits of waste contractors, such audits will require copies of relevant Waste Carrier Registrations (which currently lasts for 3 years) and a copy of the Waste Management (disposal) License from any waste disposal contractor. Ensure that they are both current and permits the handling of STFC wastes. WDOs must also ensure that Waste Management Licenses are current and permit the landfill, incineration or sorting of the type(s) of wastes being disposed.
  
  
• 4.5.3 Contact the Radiation Protection Advisor immediately if any waste is or is suspected to be radioactive.
  
  
• 4.5.4 If necessary, obtain the Safety Data Sheets (SDS), COSHH and manual handling assessments. Using the information provided the WDO will allocate the Hazard statement codes (HP1-HP14) for the information needed in order to assign the relevant European Waste Catalogue number (EWC) to hazardous waste.
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• It is also recognized that many of the waste providers will undertake this task which is acceptable .​
  
  
• 4.5.5 Determine whether the waste should remain at its point of generation or should be removed to an appropriate WCP advising whether the waste should be repackaged to assure its safe transport and disposal by waste disposal contractors.
  
  
• 4.5.6 Notify an appropriate waste disposal contractor once waste is located and arrange for its collection and disposal, providing all details of the waste as required in the CWTN and/or HWCN. Guidance on completion of HWCNs can be found in Appendix 4. Special hazards or handling requirements must also be provided to the Contractor.
  
  
• 4.5.7 Where an "unknown waste" that is likely to be hazardous is identified, arrange collection of representative samples of the waste for analysis, and charge the waste originator for the cost of analysis. Arrange for samples to be taken by the sampling laboratory if necessary, and await results of analysis.
  
  
• 4.5.8 Arrange collection and the disposal of the waste consignment with the Waste Carrier. During collection, the Waste Disposal Officers should receive (green) copies of the CWTN and/or HWCN.
  
  
• 4.5.9 Retain WDFs, HWCN and CWTN for at least 3 years and maintain a record of wastes disposed. Appendix 4 details the Hazardous Waste Consignment Note procedure.

5. References

• 5.1 European Waste Catalogue
  
  
• 5.2 List of Wastes - Guidance and thesaurus
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• 5.3Waste classification and technical guida​nce
  
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• 5.4 Duty of Care - Summary

(1) In Scotland, SEPA provides unique references​ for each consignment under the Special Waste Regulations​