Environmental Regulations

All businesses are legally responsible for their waste, from the moment it is produced, through all handling and storage stages, until it is recycled or disposed of. Green issues, carbon footprints and global warming are phrases that we hear everyday, they represent a very real and serious situation that is climbing ever higher up the political and social agenda.

If you do not comply with the ever changing Environmental Regulations, you are missing out on a vital opportunity to 'do your bit' for the environment, raise your businesses profile in the eyes of your customers and maintain a clean and safe working environment. More importantly, you are breaking the law!

The Duty of Care affects ALL businesses and you must make sure you have the necessary procedures in place to comply with the following:

Your waste is stored, handled, recycled or disposed of safely and legally
Your waste is stored, handled, recycled or disposed of only by businesses which hold the correct, current permit or licence to do the work
You record all transfers of waste between your business and another, using a waste transfer note (WTN)
You keep all WTNs, signed by both businesses, for at least two years
You record any transfer of hazardous/special waste between your business and another, using a consignment note
You keep all consignment notes, signed by both businesses, for at least three years

Any waste that is potentially harmful to humans or the environment is known as hazardous waste in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and special waste in Scotland. Hazardous wastes you may produce include:

Unused paint
Used degreasing or cleaning solvents
Batteries
Used oil and oil-contaminated materials
Oil separator wastes
Brake linings, shoes or pads containing asbestos

These must be handled and disposed of with greater care, and are subject to the same strict rules and procedures as normal waste. If you produce waste that has hazardous properties you may also need to deal with this as hazardous/special waste, a good example of this is fluorescent light tubes.

Catalytic Converter Regulation 103 Type Approval:

Regulation 103 Type Approval is the new statutory requirement that covers the supply, sale and installation of replacement catalytic converters. The new regulations came into force on 13th August 2009, and therefore the requirements of which are legally binding from that date. If you are not already familiar with the new regulations, follow the link to get up to date with Catalytic Converter Regulation 103 Type Approval.

Where to find more information

The NetRegs website contains complete and comprehensive guidance on all aspects of environmental waste legislation and recycling law. From here you can find everything you need to know, to operate within current UK law and legislation, including links to licensed waste disposal companies. Simply visit the Government NetRegs website for Environmental Regulations in Motor Vehicle Repair.

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