Contractors warned over site waste disposal

The Environment Agency is warning contractors they face fines of up to £50,000 if construction site waste disposal rules are not followed correctly.

The warning comes after a spike in fly tipping, with workers even being hospitalised after handling contaminated waste.

The Environment Agency is now asking all construction and demolition sites that produce, transport, treat or dispose of waste to fulfil their duty of care. Builders have a legal responsibility to ensure they send their site waste to legal waste collectors. Not doing so can result in them facing up to a £50,000 fine.

Sadly, construction is an easy target for waste crime, so it is essential for contractors to stay ahead of the game by taking full ownership of waste management on site and fulfil their duty of care.

Here are some useful pointers.

• Ensure you only employ contractors with a valid waste carriers licence. Licences can be checked at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/access-the-public-register-for-environmental-information .
• Obtain information with regards to where the waste is to be disposed of. Check the site has a valid waste permit or exemption licence and it is licensed to accept the type of waste being disposed of. Licenses can be checked at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/access-the-public-register-for-environmental-information .
• Ensure fully completed waste information/waste transfer note is issued whenever waste is removed from site and waste is described correctly.
• Waste is securely kept to prevent its escape. This includes ensuring storage facilities are fit for purpose and covered over if necessary.

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For details on how to ensure your company doesn’t fall foul of the EA for incorrect disposal of waste, subscribe to the CIP Environmental Manual at www.cip-knowledge.com