Revised Specification Can Help UK Waste Management Sector Cut Costs and Meet Regulatory Compliance  

For an increasing number of organisations, dealing with waste management is becoming more challenging as controls get stricter and the costs to remove waste rise. To help make businesses more aware of the measures they can take towards reducing these costs and meeting EU Landfill Directive targets, BSI, the business standards company, has revised its waste resource management specification, PAS 402.

First published in 2009, the updated document PAS 402:2013 "Waste resource management – Specification for performance reporting" can help waste management organisations to follow a framework for performance testing. This can enable them to report how they perform in key areas such as diverting their waste from landfill and recovering waste materials.

As landfill space reduces and is predicted by the LGA (Local Government Association) to have been filled by 2018, the need for intelligent and responsible waste resource management is heightened. Further incentive for organizations to act now comes from the Treasury’s 2008 increase in landfill tax rates rising from £24 to £80 per tonne of material.

PAS 402 was originally created by BSI and  CEW (Constructing Excellence in Wales, which is funded by the Welsh Government) to cater for Welsh construction processes. CEW used the Green Compass Scheme as a pilot, with results showing participating organisations achieving a waste recovery (waste diverted from landfill) rate of 83% in 2009.

Although the construction, demolition and excavation (CD&E) sector generates more waste than other sectors it is by no means the only area where waste resources can be managed. Electronic and computer hardware waste is another example, and is also covered within the revised document. The content within PAS 402:2013 has also been revised in light of current waste management practices.

The framework was developed via a collaborative process involving Natural Resource Wales (formerly the Environment Agency Wales), The Chartered Institution of Waste Management, UK Contractors Group, Veolia and the Welsh Government.

The specification is intended for organisations that process industrial, commercial or household waste at a transfer station, treatment facility or disposal site. It is not relevant for those which operate solely as a waste carrier or waste broker.

David Fatscher, Head of Market Development for Sustainability at BSI said: “PAS 402 'Waste resource management – Specification for performance reporting' can enable waste management organisations to not only see cost savings, they can achieve enhanced reputation, gain competitive advantage and more sustainable customer relationships. This is in addition to the benefits of a heightened level of regulatory compliance and environmental protection from exposure to hazardous substances."