A-Z of Issues

A
Abandoned Vehicles - The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, in liaison with relevant Government Departments, Agencies and industry bodies, has produced a good practice guide to deal with abandoned vehicles and maintain regular contact with DEFRA over this issue. CIWM has responded to relevant Government consultation documents on this subject For further details contact tina.benfied@ciwm.co.uk/ tom.ellis@ciwm.co.uk
Anaerobic Digestion - Anaerobic Digestion is a method of biologically degrading organic wastes in the absence of oxygen to produce a usable biogas and homogenous residue (may be utilised as a soil conditioner). This technology is new to the UK for application in waste management for non-liquid wastes and its potential is explored in two CIWM technical publications and addressed by a special interest group looking at biological treatment of wastes. For further details contact tina.benfied@ciwm.co.uk

B
Best Value - Local Authority services such as refuse collection and street cleansing must be provided in accordance with the principles of best value. The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management in conjunction with relevant Government departments, the Audit Commission and other stakeholders has developed guidance for the waste industry on implementing the best value regime. The CIWM has responded to relevant best value consultations and continually updates members on good practice in service provision that complies with the principles of ‘best value’. For further details contact tina.benfied@ciwm.co.uk
Biological Treatment - Biological treatment of wastes covers a range of technologies and processes for dealing with organic wastes, the most common of which is composting. Other relevant techniques are anaerobic Digestion and bioremediation. Bioremediation is using biotechnology to clean up contaminated land. The CIWM responds to consultation documents and has produced a detailed technical report on biological treatment of wastes. It also has a special interest group addressing this area. For further details contact tina.benfied@ciwm.co.uk

C
Clinical and Healthcare Waste - Clinical waste is waste that arises from healthcare treatment and includes blood, syringe needles, microbiological cultures, pharmaceutical products and items used to dispose of bodily secretions. Clinical waste is classified into five groups (A-E) to represent differing level of hazards. The Institution runs a special interest group on healthcare wastes which covers issues of clinical and healthcare wastes. For more information on clinical waste or the work of the special interest group please contact michael.day@ciwm.co.uk
Collection - The collection of waste and recyclables, whether from the household, industry or commercial premises is an essential and visible waste management function. The method of delivery of this service impacts on the later recycling and processing potential of the collected materials. The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management runs a special interest group addressing all aspects of this service, has produced technical reports on collection systems and has regular liaison with Government departments on the collection of waste and recyclables. For further details contact tina.benfied@ciwm.co.uk
Commercial Waste - The collection of waste from commerce is undertaken by private sector operators and also on behalf of the local authority through its contractor (this may be an arms length local authority company or private sector operator). The collection of commercial waste and recyclables is addressed by the CIWM Collection, Recycling and Environmental Cleansing Special Interest Group, who produce technical reports on refuse collection systems and respond to relevant consultations. For further details contact tina.benfied@ciwm.co.uk
Composting - Composting is a technique increasingly used for dealing with biodegradable wastes (garden wastes) and is usually performed in rows of material open to the air that are turned to aerate the material and encourage degradation. Enclosed and ‘in-vessel’ systems are also available for dealing with biodegradable kitchen wastes. The CIWM has produced a number of technical documents dealing with this waste management technique and has special features in its monthly journal on composting. The Institution also has the Biological Treatment Special Interest Group which deals with composting issues. For further details contact tina.benfied@ciwm.co.uk
Construction & Demolition Waste - Around 70 million tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste are generated each year, a figure far in excess of levels of municipal waste generated. The UK is currently recycling around half of the C&D waste produced and is working with groups from the construction industry to increase this level further. For further information contact michael.day@ciwm.co.uk

D
Duty of Care - The Duty of Care is a law which requires every business in the UK to take "all reasonable steps" to keep their wastes safe. It was introduced through Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and covers any businesses who produce, import, carry, keep, treat, dispose or broker controlled waste.

The objective of the Duty of Care is to protect people and the environment from illegally managed waste. It does this through creating an "audit trail" of responsibility for the waste. The Environment Agencies and local authorities can follow the audit trail back through all parties who have been responsible for it. They may prosecute if any party has failed to observe their responsibilities for the waste.

Householders are not covered by the Duty of Care for the waste from their own home.


E
End of Life Vehicles - End of Life Vehicles (ELVs) can arise through accidents, theft and arson, abandonment of vehicles or through a vehicle being discarded as no longer functioning / failure of MOT etc. A new EC Directive covering the management of ELVs makes the producers of cars responsible for their end of life (i.e. take back and treatment) costs and also brings in new standards for vehicle dismantlers and for the design of cars to be more recyclable. CIWM has responded to relevant consultations, held events and covered this issue in technical publications. For further details contact tom.ellis@ciwm.co.uk
Energy from Waste - The term ‘thermal treatment’ covers a breadth of different technologies that have a variety of applications for wastes management. The most common technique is known as energy from waste, which achieves, through the incineration of wastes, a reduction in the volume of the wastes and generates electricity and/or steam. Incineration, using these technologies, is a robust and proven process but there are other innovative systems such as pyrolysis and gasification which are more sensitive but potentially cleaner systems. The emissions from thermal treatment systems (controversial as the emissions may contain dioxins, albeit at extremely low concentrations) are regulated by the Environment Agency under strict controls that are likely become more stringent under the new EC Incineration of Waste Directive. The CIWM Thermal Treatment Special Interest Group regularly run workshops and respond to consultations on these issues and the Institution journal carries regular special features on energy from waste. For further details on the CIWM work in this area contact tom.ellis@ciwm.co.uk or consult the Institution’s Energy from Waste Good Practice Guide.

F
Fridges - Prior to 1995 domestic white goods were manufactured with chlorofluorocarbons as refrigerants, which are now recognised ozone depleting substances (ODS). These substances are covered by an EC Regulation that came into effect in January 2002 which requires the ODS (contained as coolant in the foam and in fluid form) within the white goods to be processed to recover the refrigerant and prevent escape to the atmosphere. The CIWM has held a briefing session on this issue and updates members on developments through the Institution journal. For further details contact tom.ellis@ciwm.co.uk

H
Hazardous/ Special Waste - Waste is hazardous when it contains substances or has properties that might make it harmful to human health or the environment if not properly managed. Hazardous wastes include many items of everyday household appliances such as televisions, computer screens and fluorescent lighting. Hazardous wastes require more management than non-hazardous wastes and cannot be disposed of alongside them. The term ‘special waste’ has previously been used throughout the UK, but this term will only be used in Scottish legislation in the future. For further details contact michael.day@ciwm.co.uk

L
Landfill
Landfill Directive
Landfill Gas
Landfill Leachate

M
Minimisation

P
Packaging
Performance indicators
Prevention

R
Recycling

T
Transportation