England and Wales produced nearly six million tonnes of hazardous waste in 2006.
What is hazardous waste?
All waste is potentially harmful but we call waste hazardous if, for example, it is highly flammable, toxic or carcinogenic. This includes waste from:
- industrial chemical processes
- oil refining
- metals processes
- solvents
- waste oils
- some clinical waste
- asbestos.
Amounts vary from year to year. England and Wales produced nearly six million tonnes of hazardous waste in 2006 (Indicator: Hazardous waste). Hazardous waste appears to have risen greatly from 1997/98 because oils and other wastes were included for the first time. We introduced a new hazardous waste database in 2005 to support the new regulations and reporting requirements. This has meant two separate sets of hazardous waste data were generated, which are not directly comparable.
How does hazardous waste affect the environment?
If hazardous waste is disposed of and managed properly, it only poses a small risk to the environment. It only becomes harmful if it is managed badly or disposed of illegally.
The Environment Agency responds to incidents of a large scaler that involve hazardous waste. We dealt with 982 illegal waste dumping incidents 2006-07. Clearing these up cost nearly £150,000. We took 161 prosecutions forward in relation to illegal waste activities, resulting in over £422,000 in fines.
How is hazardous waste managed?
Because of the extra risks hazardous waste poses to human health and the environment, strict laws control how it is managed.
Some hazardous waste can be reused, recovered or recycled, such as solvents, oils and metals. Others are incinerated or sent to landfill. Waste mineral oil, for example, can be burned as fuel but it’s better for the environment to recycle it instead.
New legislation from July 2005 has reduced the number of landfill sites accepting hazardous waste.
There are two merchant hazardous waste incinerators in England and Wales that burn hazardous waste:
- Cleanaway, Ellesmere Port
- Shanks, Southampton
A number of chemical plants, drum reconditioning facilities and cement or lime kilns also incinerate hazardous waste with other fuels.
The UK is committed under the Basel Convention to deal with the hazardous it generates.
The Environment Agency tracks hazardous waste from origin to final treatment using consignment notes. We also want industry to reduce the amount of hazardous waste it produces and being more efficient with resources.
Envirowise, a Government organisation, promotes using cleaner technology in various industrial sectors.
The UK Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste aims to minimise shipments of hazardous waste between countries. UK disposal facilities are sometimes used to assist countries that don't yet have the capacity to deal with certain waste.
Emissions from waste incinerators can be examined on:
The Environment Agency's report which outlines the challenges that are faced in managing hazardous waste: Environment Agency information:
