Waste not, want not

Taking effect on October 30, the next stage of the EU Landfill Directive means that UK organisations are facing new challenges when it comes to dealing with their waste. These Regulations are arguably the most significant piece of waste legislation since the Control of Pollution Act of 1974.

Rather than being an issue primarily of concern to waste operators and local authorities, the Directive now firmly places the onus on the waste producer to take responsibility for their waste. By banning liquids and ‘untreated’ waste from Landfill, the aim is clearly to help the UK tackle the estimated 434 million tonnes of waste currently produced each year; organisations are now obliged to consider how they dispose of their ‘general’ waste.

The main mechanism of this regulatory shift is the Directive’s obligation to ‘treat’ waste prior to landfill and ensure that it meets the so-called ‘three-point test’:

• Treatment must involve a physical, thermal, chemical or biological process (which can include sorting or segregating waste)
• Treatment must change the characteristics of the waste in such a way as to reduce its volume, or reduce its hazardous nature, or facilitate its handling or enhance its recovery.

This essentially means that businesses are being tasked to segregate waste and ensure that, wherever possible, this waste is recovered and recycled.

One company that is perfectly placed to assist organisations tackle these issues is PHS Wastemanagement. It has a national operating network of pollution prevention control (PPC) sites and has further boosted its commitment to the recycling of difficult wastes with the acquisition of Recycling and Resource Management Ltd (RRM).

One of the most respected names in specialist chemical and packaging recycling services, RRM has now become part of the PHS Group. This acquisition, along with that of De-Pack, Europe’s only dedicated, 100% aerosol recycling site, underlines the company’s pledge to providing a totally ‘green’ service by helping laboratories across the UK meet the challenges of the Landfill Directive.

Now known as PHS Wastemenagement Chemical Division, the Warwickshire-based business, trading since the early 1990s, has built a solid reputation through its unique services to laboratory and chemical waste recycling; specialising in the recycling of laboratory and pure chemicals packaging.

By manually segregating each constituent element of waste, the new PHS division achieves a level of recovery and recycling previously unknown in the chemical waste sector. The company is unique as it recovers and disposes of liquid chemical waste while also ensuring that all packaging materials are recycled, including cardboard, polystyrene and bottles.

John Clewes, commercial manager for RRM said: “The Directive is in place to meet some very serious concerns about the environment; it’s about tackling the sheer volume of waste being sent to Landfill. Our services are designed to do just that.

“For example, we wash more than 300,000 glass bottles each year from laboratories. Out commitment to recycling these bottles and diverting chemical packaging away from landfill is widely appreciated by our customers and has earned us a ‘Green Apple award’ from the Institute of Waste Management.

“We are happy to help any laboratory that is struggling to meet the new Landfill requirements and even ‘hold hands’ with those that need a little guidance – it’s what we have been doing for many years.

“Now, as part of the PHS group, we have been able to invest further in our site which will be hugely beneficial to our customers and can supply a range of environmentally beneficial services that are second to none.”

The commitment of both RRM and the PHS Group to sorting difficult waste streams and facilitating the improved recovery and recycling of waste is in complete accordance with the latest ‘pre-treatment’ requirement of the Landfill Directive. RRM’s services were originally designed to help laboratories handle their waste in an environmentally conscious manner and reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill – both key aims of the new Landfill Directive.

Clare Noble, managing director for PHS Wastemanagement commented: “it is in everyone’s interest that we dramatically reduce the volume of waste we throw away and challenge our perceptions of what it means to look after our environment.

“RRM has, for more than 10 years now, offered a service that is both unique and respected within the chemical and university laboratory sectors. Many laboratories and chemical waste producers are now looking to fulfill the requirements set out by the Landfill Directive by turning to the tried and trusted services that we offer.”

“PHS is looking to build upon the outstanding reputation of RRM to continue supplying services that not only helps our customers meet their legal obligations, but also improves their organisation’s environmental performance and generally makes their lives easier.”