Article: Waste Management

This month, PHSC Environmental reports on environmental issues that affect vehicle workshops.

Environmental protection and waste management

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:

• have used the best practicable means to reduce emissions of noxious fumes and substances into the atmosphere
• 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
• 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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