The Fire Prevention Plan (FPP) guidance is an update on previous rules stipulating various restrictions on the storage and separation distances between piles of waste materials.
It follows consultation with operators earlier this year in which the Agency invited them to submit the costs involved in implementing fire prevention requirements – as well as an economic impact assessment of the proposed changes.
Waste operators must produce acceptable prevention plans in order to minimise the likelihood of fires erupting on-site or the outbreak spreading to neighbouring properties.
Under the updated guidance, waste operators must not store waste for longer than six months, stacks of waste should be no more than four metres high, and keep a separation distance of six metres between stacks.
The maximum volume of a waste pile varies by sector, with the Environment Agency providing a table based on loose material and baled material.
By following its guidance, the Environment Agency also aims to ensure any fire that starts on a waste site can be successfully extinguished within four hours.
Restrictions
But the WRA has slammed the document, arguing that despite months of ‘consultation and speculation’ there has been little change for wood recyclers with further restrictions placed on the sector compared to the 2015 version.
The Association had called for stack sizes to revert the original specification of eight metres high, claiming there is no ‘scientific evidence’ to halve the limit. It also believes it is ‘impossible’ to dictate a burn time.
Andy Hill, chairman of the WRA, said he was “disappointed” to see none of the points raised by the sector taken on board.
He said: “We have asked all along that the EA allow us to work with them to achieve safer industry standards and we don’t feel this is happening. Instead we now have new guidance which in some cases is worse than the previous guidance for our sector.”
Mr Hill added: “Time will now tell whether the EA will approve bespoke permits for sites that require them – the majority of our membership – in a way which allows our industry to continue operating in a safe and profitable manner.”
“We sincerely hope that local officers will have been empowered and trained effectively to allow them to assess bespoke permits on the merits of each individual operation. This flexibility will be essential if our country is to continue to enjoy such high wood recovery from landfill.”
Nicky Cunningham, deputy director of site-based regulation at the Environment Agency, said: “Waste fires can harm the environment, affect the health of residents living nearby and impact on critical infrastructure such as roads and railway lines. Our new guidance is part of our ongoing efforts to decrease major waste fires and reduce their impact.”
WISH
The Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum’s trials to determine how different types of waste burn are meanwhile due to be completed this month (see letsrecycle.com story). Working in conjunction with the Chief Fire Officers’ Association (CFOA), the tests have provided an overview of the combustible properties of waste stacks, including rubber, frag fluff, RDF, SRF, raw wood, wood fines, and crushed and screened wood.
Register for free to comment