Waste overview
The Environment Agency regulates 'controlled wastes', which include household, industrial and commercial waste. Other, 'non-controlled' (agriculture, mines and quarries) are not regulated in the same way.
Certain wastes are classified as hazardous - a very broad term for a wide range of substances that present different levels of risk. Some present a serious and immediate threat to the population and the environment, for example those which are toxic, could cause cancer or infectious disease. Others, such as fluorescent tubes or cathode ray tubes in televisions, pose little immediate threat but may cause long term damage over a period of time.
- Waste management options
- Waste data
Information on waste statistics for England and Wales
