Find out how to register as a hazardous waste producer, what paperwork you need to complete and how you should deal with your hazardous waste under the Hazardous Waste Regulations.
About hazardous waste
This section explains the meaning of hazardous waste and how to work out whether the waste you produce is hazardous or not.
We also cover the management and administration of hazardous waste including:
- how to register a business producing hazardous waste on its premises;
- what you need to do if you receive hazardous waste on your premises;
- keeping records of hazardous waste;
- maintaining a register;
- how to deal with hazardous waste which falls outside the waste acceptance criteria.
Changes for 2009
The Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 and the Hazardous Waste (Wales) Regulations 2005 were amended on 6 April 2009 and 18 November 2009 respectively. This principally widened the scope of the exemption from hazardous waste producer registration:
- All types of premises that produce hazardous waste are now exempt from registration if no more than 500kg of hazardous waste is produced in a year.
- More details on registrations can be found on our registrations page:
- Register or renew as a hazardous waste producer
- There are minor differences between the wording of the amended Welsh hazardous waste regulations and the amended England and Wales hazardous waste regulations, but the meaning is effectively the same in both. The regulatory position statement on premises notification (RPS 025) will continue to apply in both England and Wales. See our page on the Modernising Waste Regulation Panel, for more information:
- Modernising Waste Regulation Panel
Amendments to WM2
We've also made changes to WM2. This goes into much more detail about hazardous waste assessments.
In particular we have:
- updated the chemical analysis assessment section to align with chemicals legislation for the assessment of H14 (ecotoxicity);
- provided clarification on the direct testing of waste.
