The Waste Management Hierarchy

During 2011, new regulations regarding waste came into force. These regulations affect how businesses and public bodies generate, handle and treat waste.

The ‘Waste Hierarchy’ ranks waste management options according to what is best for the environment. It gives top priority to preventing waste in the first place. When waste is created, it gives priority to preparing it for re-use, then recycling, then recovery, and last of all disposal (e.g. landfill).

What does your business or organisation have to do by law?

Does your business or public body (including local authorities on behalf of householders) produce or handle waste? This includes importing, producing, carrying, keeping, treating or disposing of waste; dealers or brokers who have control of waste, and anyone responsible for the transfer of waste.

If YES, you need to take all such measures as are reasonable in the circumstances to apply the waste hierarchy to prevent waste, and to apply the hierarchy as a priority order when you transfer your waste to another person.

r3’s services and processes are aligned to the Waste Management Hierarchy to ensure that by working with r3, your duties and obligations are met.

Contact r3 to find out how we can help you meet your Waste Hierarchy obligations.

For more information about the Waste Management Hierarchy, click on the link below:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/legislation/waste-hierarchy/

NB: Further information and some helpful diagrams will be added to this page shortly