Hazardous waste is not being treated properly in the UK

Vast amounts of hazardous waste in the UK are not being treated properly, according to the Environmental Services Association (ESA).

Raising standards, Making Defra’s hazardous waste strategy a reality, is the name of the report that documents the concerns of the ESA.

In the report, the ESA claims that the the UK’s waste management sector often neglects its full duties, leaving much material treated improperly, while it also voices concerns that "illegal" practices may also be happening.

The aim of the document is to reaffirm the duties of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency.

It is intended to motivate the agency to ensure hazardous waste is treated in more advanced processes, for regulations to be more tightly enforced and for better collection of data.

Commenting on the report, Alex Gazulla of hazardous waste specialist Tradebe, who is also chairman of the ESA’s hazardous waste strategy group, said: "The government’s 2010 ‘Strategy for hazardous waste management’ says all the right things, and ESA members are fully behind it.

"But there is evidence that it is not taking effect on the ground, and that some of the UK’s hazardous waste is not being handled at state of the art facilities, as the Strategy intended. This undermines the investment ESA member companies have made in best available technologies for dealing with hazardous wastes, and if unchecked could pose risks to the environment."

Overall, the ESA report makes four main recommendations.

It advises stronger promotion and enforcement of the Waste Hierarchy Guidance for hazardous waste, a review by the Environment Agency of how waste should be treated, better data on waste movements and how they are treated, as well as action at EU level to tackle movements of hazardous waste within the EU.