Hazardous/special waste
Your business is likely to produce some hazardous/special waste, which is waste that is harmful to human health or the environment. This waste may be flammable, corrosive, or ecotoxic - toxic to people or the environment.
In England, Northern Ireland and Wales this waste is called hazardous waste.
In Scotland, this waste is called special waste.
Examples of hazardous/special waste
Examples of materials that could be hazardous/special waste include:
- cleaning materials contaminated with photochemicals
- materials used for cleaning up spills or leaks
- old fixative and developer carried in wash water
- distillation sludges
- exhausted wash-out solution
- blanket cleaning solutions from offset printing
- containers that hold chemicals.
What you must do
Identify hazardous/special waste
If the waste you produce has hazardous properties, you may need to deal with it as hazardous/special waste. You will find information that can help you make this decision on safety data sheets and product labels.
Check containers
If you intend to discard containers, you must assess whether they are hazardous/special waste. Containers may need to be classified as hazardous/special waste if they contain residues of hazardous or dangerous substances or materials. If the residue is hazardous, the whole container will be hazardous/special waste.
Use consignment notes
If your business produces hazardous/special waste, you must:
- use consignment notes whenever the waste is moved to another location, and keep copies for three years
- keep copies of return to producer forms for three years (these are records of what has happened to your waste)
- in England and Wales, check whether you need to register annually with the Environment Agency
- in Northern Ireland and Scotland, notify the NIEA or SEPA at least three working days before the waste is moved
- comply with your duty of care for waste.
In England and Wales you can register or renew your premises with the Environment Agency online.
Environment Agency: Register or renew online as a hazardous waste producer
For more information see our hazardous/special waste guidance in:
England on Business Link: Managing your hazardous waste
Northern Ireland on NIBusinessInfo: Managing your hazardous waste
Scotland on Business Gateway: Managing your hazardous waste
Wales on Business.Wales.gov.uk: Managing your hazardous waste
Use waste carriers
You must ensure a registered or exempt waste carrier transports your hazardous/special waste. You can check your environmental regulator’s register of carriers, brokers and dealers to see if a carrier is registered or has an exemption.
Environment Agency: Your right to know - public registers
NIEA: Public register
SEPA: Who is registered?
In England, Northern Ireland and Wales you can currently transport most waste produced by your own business, other than construction or demolition waste, directly to an authorised waste management site or recycling facility without registering as a waste carrier. In England and Wales, you will have to register with the Environment Agency as a lower tier waste carrier by the end of December 2013 if you normally and regularly carry your own business waste. In Northern Ireland you will have to register with the NIEA as a lower tier carrier by the end of December 2013 if you normally and regularly carry your own business waste.
In Scotland if you normally and regularly transport waste produced by your own business, you must register with SEPA as a professional collector or transporter of waste. This is a new requirement for businesses. If you transport your own construction or demolition waste you must usually register as a waste carrier. You will soon be able to register online. SEPA recommends you delay your registration until the online system is available. If you need to register sooner, download the application form from the SEPA website.
SEPA: Application form to register as a professional collector or transporter of waste (Adobe PDF - 54KB)
See our guidance on waste carriers, brokers and dealers in:
England on Business Link: Waste carriers, brokers and dealers
Northern Ireland on NIBusinessInfo: Waste carriers, brokers and dealers
Scotland on Business Gateway: Waste carriers, brokers and dealers
Wales on Business.Wales.gov.uk: Waste carriers, brokers and dealers
Use permitted facilities
You must also ensure that your hazardous/special waste is transferred to a facility authorised to accept that type of waste. The facility must hold a suitable environmental permit or an exemption (England and Wales), waste management licence or an exemption (Northern Ireland and Scotland), or pollution prevention and control (PPC) permit (Northern Ireland and Scotland).
Business Link (England): Environmental permits - who needs one and how to comply
Waste management licences (Nothern Ireland and Scotland)
Pollution prevention and control (PPC) permits (Northern Ireland and Scotland
Business.Wales.gov.uk (Wales): Environmental permits - who needs one and how to comply
Good practice
Research alternative materials and practices that do not produce, or produce less, hazardous/special waste.
Provide written instructions for storing and disposing of each type of hazardous/special waste produced on your premises. Ensure that all employees and contractors follow these instructions.
