Agency outlines new approach to waste compliance

A new system of waste compliance that aims to ensure waste is handled legally throughout the supply chain by focusing on the material itself rather than through snapshot site inspections, is being rolled-out by the Environment Agency.

Under the system, which is known as the waste stream approach (WSA), the Environment Agency is to monitor compliance across the waste management supply chain. It will be tracing inputs and outputs of material from facilities and focusing on the analysis and cross-checking of data.

Speaking at a pan-industry event in Birmingham this week (June 28), Environment Agency permitting manager Barry Sheppard claimed that this meant the Agency was able to better monitor compliance in the modern waste market.

In particular, he said the WSA was a more effective and efficient way of monitoring compliance than the Agency traditional snapshot approach which is focused on inspecting individual waste management sites.

He explained: Were trying to make sure waste as it flows through the system is compliant. Not just is site compliant?, but where is waste coming from and where is it going to?

Environment Agency officers are tasked with getting data on waste inputs and outputs from a waste site which is then analysed at a data hub. Mr Sheppard said this was then used to try to build up a picture of waste flows coming in and out of the site by cross-checking it with existing data.

If it looks like there are issues with particular waste streams we go back to the areas where waste has gone to, he said.

According to the EA, the new approach better reflects the modern waste industry, while also allowing a more efficient and effective use of its resources, in particular in relation to manpower and data.

Mr Sheppard said it would help to ensure better compliance by making sure waste streams remain legal and, in particular, would help to address the issue of illegal exports.

Trials

Focusing on high impact waste streams, trials of the WSA have already been carried out in the North West, in particular in materials recycling facilities (MRFs) and the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) sector. In total 40 sites have been audited so far using the system, of which 37 are MRFs and three are WEEE plants

Mr Sheppard said that these trials had revealed particular issues around waste brokers, with half of all sites audited revealing some sort of compliance issues, of which 75% related to brokers.

He also highlighted the very complicated nature of waste flows, explaining they travel long distances and are quite a complicated thing to carry out analysis on. And, he claimed there was a lack of understanding among councils about exactly what happened to their waste material.

But, he claimed the approach was yielding results, explaining that the early findings of the work had resulted in a change of practice by both site operators and the local authorities.

Roll-out

And, in light of the trials success, Mr Sheppard said the WSA was now being rolled-out nationwide, focusing on the following waste streams: tyres; healthcare waste; biowaste; and, construction and demolition waste.