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This month, PHSC
Environmental reports on environmental
issues that affect vehicle workshops.
The subject of environmental protection
is a huge topic, and far outside the scope of
this short article. Given below is a brief outline
of how some motor vehicle organisations have fallen
foul of the law, and been subsequently punished
by the enforcement authorities for failing to
meet requirements.
In recent months there have been
two cases documented where motor vehicle repair
workshops have been prosecuted for failing to
handle and dispose of waste correctly. In one
case, the garage was fined £3,500 plus £6337.31
towards prosecution costs. This was because they
were found guilty of failing to dispose of waste
tyres in accordance with a waste management licence,
treating controlled waste in a manner likely to
cause pollution to the environment (they were
burning tyres on a bonfire) and failing to comply
with the duty of care regarding waste.
In another case the a tyre service
company was fined £500 and ordered to pay
prosecution costs of £500 for failing to
keep records of waste tyres produced by the business.
Under the Environmental
Protection Act 1990 (EPA) and associated
regulations, employers must ensure that they have
sufficient arrangements in place to demonstrate
that they:
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have used the best
practicable means to reduce emissions of noxious
fumes and substances into the atmosphere |
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store their waste
products (eg engine and brake fluid) in a
manner that keeps them self-contained and
not likely to be absorbed into the ground
or cause any other fire or safety hazard |
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ensure that any
waste is removed by a competent and licenced
body. |
In recent times the emphasis has
moved from "waste disposal" to "waste
management". This philosophy seeks to not
only ensure that any waste is removed in accordance
with the law, but that orgnisations also look
at how they can minimise the amount of waste (eg
by recycling) and ensure that the final disposal
route is the most suitable (eg landfill or incineration).
Therefore it is in the interest
of all employers in the motor vehicle industry
to review their waste management arrangements
and to ensure that they are not vulnerable in
the event of an enforcement officer visiting.
First published in 'Body'
Magazine, March 2001 issue
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