Registering farms for hazardous waste
Prior to 15th May 2007 agriculture was excluded from the control of hazardous waste under the hazardous waste regulation. However, agricultural premises must now register with the Environment agency if they produce over a certain amount of hazardous waste, such as lead acid batteries, fluorescent tubes, non-food oil and asbestos.
Generally, any premises are exempt from registration if they produce under the threshold of 200kg of hazardous waste each year. In addition, the Environment agency has introduced an interim position for agricultural premises to cover the period from May 2007 to May 2008. This provides that farmers will not need to register their premises so long as:
• they produce less than 500kg of agricultural hazardous waste each year
• when it is removed from the farm it is transported by either a registered waste carrier or a carrier that is exempt from the need to be a registered carrier
• consignment notes are completed for and accompany removal of hazardous waste from its site of production
In addition, the Environment Agency will not count the weight of end-of-life vehicles towards the 500kg threshold.
This position will be reviewed in October 2007.
As such, it is unlikely that farmers will need to register this year. The Environment Agency however estimates that 43% or the agriculture community will need to register on a yearly basis if the premises threshold was 200kg per year.
John Pitts advises ‘It is important to note that when replacing asbestos sheet roofing or demolishing agricultural buildings containing asbestos materials, it is likely that the 500kg threshold will be exceeded. As such, the farmer will need to register the site with the Environment Agency and obtain a registration number that must be quoted on the consignment note on removal. Farmers should also be aware that premises producing hazardous waste have a duty of care to dispose of this properly’.
Registration with the Environment Agency is simple and can be carried out over the phone, by post or online. Online is the cheapest and fastest method, costs £18 for a years registration and provides you with the registration number there and then.
- Ashby de la Zouch
- 01530 412821
- Banbury
- 01295 271 555
- Knutsford
- 01565 757970
- Market Harborough
- 01858 410 200
- Newark
- 01949 851815
- Southampton
- 02380 883150
- St Helens
- 01744 451145
- Stafford
- 01785 220 044
- Worcester
- 01905 453275
