Photographic Waste Re-Classification - how does it affect you?
In our last Newsletter we warned of a potential change to the way in which photographic waste will be classified. Well, The Environment Agency has recently changed the classification of photographic waste to 'Special Waste', which will have a major effect on your responsibilities as Waste Producers.
Some of the biggest changes which are likely to affect our industry are as follows:-
Pre-notification - All fixers, bleach fixers and some developers are now classed as Special Waste i.e. hazardous waste. As a consequence, every collection of such waste must be notified to the Environment Agency by the Waste Producer before shipping occurs. The Environment Agency also levies £15.00 per consignment to cover its administration costs.
Recovery/Disposal - The carriage and treatment of Special Waste must be carried out by a fully licenced Waste Management Company. Not all silver recovery firms are licenced to handle Special Waste and YOU have a Duty of Care to ensure that your waste is handled by a properly licenced company.
Compliance - The Environment Agency maintains a database of all UK Special Waste Producers and has a statutory duty under the Special Waste Regulations 1996 to inspect producers from time to time and enforce compliance with the Regulations. To that effect, you must retain the correct paperwork for a minimum of 3 years, otherwise you may be prosecuted for non-compliance.
Since our Newsletter in February we have been working very closely with a major licenced waste recovery company. Now that the Environment Agency has changed the classification of Photographic Waste to 'Special Waste' it is even more imperative to ensure your fixers and developers are disposed of correctly.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) and more recent legislation are continuing to have far reaching effects on the way commerce and industry addresses it environmental responsibilities.
Section 34 of the EPA imposes a Duty of Care on anybody who "produces, stores, processes, treats, transports or disposes of commercial or industrial waste". This covers shops, offices and all business premises, including microfilm studios and microfilm labs.
Under existing Duty of Care, you and your company already have the responsibility to:
- prevent any waste materials from causing harm to the environment.
- ensure that waste is only transferred to a registered waste carrier for transport or an - adequately licensed waste disposal or recovery company.
- ensure that a suitable description of the waste is provided by way of a Waste Transfer - Note.
- ensure that no party to whom waste is transferred, breaches the Duty of Care.
All fixers, bleach fixers and some developers are now classed as Special Waste i.e. hazardous waste. As a consequence, every collection of such waste must be notified to the Environment Agency by the Waste Producer before shipping occurs. The Environmental Agency who levies £15.00 per consignment to cover its administration costs.
The carriage and treatment of Special Waste must be carried out by a fully licensed Waste Management Company. Not all silver recovery firms are licensed to handle Special Waste and YOU have a Duty of Care to ensure that your waste is handled by a properly licensed company.
To help you meet your responsibilities, The Microfilm Shop is pleased to announce that we can offer a dedicated service for the collection of all spent photo solutions in cooperation with a Specialist Waste Management Company.
The Microfilm Shop Waste Collection Service is tailored to suit individuals needs; collections of waste in bulk for larger producers, alternatively collection of waste in 20L cans with a 200L minimum collection amount. Cans are provided free of charge to the customer, other storage/pumping equipment can be purchased directly.
Collection of waste are made within 5 working days from receiving your collection request and the silver is recovered for 100% and fully credited back to the customer.
The treatment charges are:-
- £0.25 per litre for drummed waste
- £0.22 per litre for waste collected in bulk.
- £25.00 annual registration fee
- £5.00 per collection charge
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