Waste is considered to be hazardous when it contains substances or has properties that make it an oxidising agent, flammable, irritant, harmful, toxic, carcinogenic, corrosive, infectious, mutagenic or ecotoxic.

In July 2005 the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 were implemented, bringing far more everyday items under scope of the requirements. These include televisions, computer monitors, fluorescent tubes and many other items of electrical equipment.

To determine whether a waste is hazardous, the best source of information to use is the Technical Guidance WM2. WM2 guides you through the classification process by starting with the Consolidated European Waste Catalogue (EWC). This enables an EWC code to be affixed to each waste and this in turn will determine whether the waste is non-hazardous, a mirror entry hazardous waste or an absolute entry hazardous waste.

If a waste is designated an absolute entry EWC code, it is a hazardous waste, irrespective of the concentration of any hazardous components.

If a waste is designated a mirror entry EWC code, the concentrations of the hazardous components or contaminants must be considered. Using the risk phrases associated with the hazardous components, potential hazard properties and threshold concentrations for those properties can be determined. The actual concentrations in the waste must then be compared against the threshold levels, to determine whether the waste is actually hazardous.

It can be rather complicated and even within the waste management industry there is some debate with regard to classification of certain wastes. A number of anomalies do exist, which can easily confuse.

For guidance and advice please contact the Grundon Technical Department on 01491 834340.

At Grundon we have in-depth and detailed experience in the classification, handling, management and disposal of most types of hazardous waste. We are not only informed and up to date with all UK and European legislation, but we have also responded to it with some of the most efficient and advanced technical and technological solutions available in the UK.

Collections Services

Grundon offer a number of collection services to suit individual customer's needs. These include:

• Packaged Hazardous Waste Collection Service
• Haz-Box Service
• Chem-Pack Collection Service
• Bulk Collections
• Tanker Collections
• Specialist Collections
• Emergency Response Service

Ordering Information

Our operational area for hazardous waste collections covers most of the UK. All hazardous waste enquiries should be sent to the Technical Department, at the Ewelme depot:

• Tel: 01491 834340
  Fax: 01491 834319
  e-mail: technical@grundon.com

Copies of our enquiry form and waste control forms are shown below:

	Enquiry form to be completed for Packaged Waste
	Waste control forms to be completed for Bulk Waste
	Producer Registration Form

Typical Wastes & Collections Services

The list of by-products and materials now classified as hazardous is extremely long and varied. The full list is published in a document called the European Waste Catalogue.