Hazardous waste decision postponed another month

The end date for assessing whether waste from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) should be classed as hazardous or non-hazardous waste has been extended by a month.


Originally set for 1 November 2004, the Environment Agency (EA) has announced the new date to be 30 November 2004, allowing the final stages of work on procedures to test and sample waste before disposal to be completed.

With changes to the rules for landfilling waste introduced in July this year (see related story), the EA reached an agreement with industry organisations that a temporary simplified approach as to whether residues from metal shredding should be treated as hazardous waste or not should be in effect until the beginning of November.

In the meantime, the agency has been working with industry to develop testing and sampling methodology that will demonstrate the nature of waste residues in the longer term.

Therefore, any residue must continue to be considered to be hazardous, unless the approved test shows it to be non-hazardous, or landfill operators receive confirmation from the shredder that any sources of hazardous waste such as lead acid batteries or engine oils have been removed from the ELVs prior to shredding.

By Jane Kettle

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