Environmental FAQ
Hazardous Waste
How do I know if my waste is hazardous?
Broadly speaking, hazardous waste includes wastes which are
harmful to human health, or to the environment, either immediately
or over an extended period of time. If your business produces
hazardous waste you have a 'duty of care' to make sure it's
disposed of properly. Businesses wishing to classify their waste
should refer to any regulatory guidance, but it is ultimately down
to them with most regulators reluctant to do this for you.
Your waste will generally fall into one of the following
categories:
- Waste considered to be hazardous under the Hazardous Waste
Regulations in England and Wales/Special Waste Regulations (as
amended) in Scotland, for example: lead acid batteries or
fluorescent tubes
- Waste that is not considered to be hazardous, for example:
edible oil
- Waste that needs to be assessed to find out whether it is
hazardous or not, for example: ink or paint