Environmental FAQ

Special Waste (Scotland)

What is Special Waste and how do I identify it?

Special Waste is essentially any waste with hazardous properties which may render it harmful to human health or the environment. Elsewhere in the UK and the EC, it is referred to as being Hazardous waste.

Guidance on how to classify and assess your special waste can be found in the guidance document WM2 Hazardous Waste: Interpretation of the definition and classification of hazardous waste.

This document was produced by SEPA, the Environment Agency and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. WM2 provides technical guidance for classifying/assessing special waste using a system based on the concentration of 'dangerous substances' within the waste.

What paperwork is required when moving special waste?

In Scotland all movements of Special waste must be accompanied by a Special Waste Consignment Note. The consignment note consists of five different coloured, self carbonising pages, each with five sections, which refer to a different aspect of the waste transfer.

Am I allowed to mix Special Waste?

You are not allowed to mix different categories of special waste or mix special waste with non-special waste, unless you have a permit or licence. Where the waste is already mixed with other waste, substances or materials, you must separate the waste where technically and economically feasible.

The Landfill Regulations require that before waste is accepted at a landfill site the holder or operator must be able to show that the waste can be accepted according to the permit conditions and the waste acceptance criteria.

There is no deminis for low levels of special waste, if it is mixed with non-special waste. For example, a few fluorescent tubes in a skip of non-special waste would make the whole skip special waste.