Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018: ​Proposed Standard Conditions for Registration level activities

Closes 24 Nov 2024

1.2.11. Storage and treatment of less than, or equal to, 10,000 tonnes of metal waste for recovery at any one time

Standard conditions

Below is the list of core and activity-specific standard conditions for storage and treatment of less than, or equal to, 10,000 tonnes of metal waste for recovery at any one time.

  1. The authorised person must have a written management system in place to ensure compliance with the conditions of this authorisation.
     
  2. Only the authorised wastes listed in Table 1 can be accepted at the Authorised Place.
     
    Table 1: Waste codes for metal wastes
    Waste Code Authorised Wastes
    02 01 10  Waste metal 
    12 01 01  Ferrous metal filings and turnings 
    12 01 03  Non-ferrous metal filings and turnings 
    15 01 04  Metallic packaging 
    16 01 17  Ferrous metal 
    16 01 18  Non-ferrous metal 
    16 01 21*  Hazardous vehicle components – catalytic converters containing RCF matting 
    16 06 01*  Lead batteries 
    17 04 01  Copper, bronze, brass 
    17 04 02  Aluminium 
    17 04 03  Lead
    17 04 04  Zinc
    17 04 05  Iron and steel
    17 04 06  Tin
    17 04 07  Mixed metals
    17 04 11  Cables other than those mentioned in 17 04 10
    19 01 02  Metal removed from bottom ash 
    19 10 01  Iron and steel waste
    19 10 02  Non-ferrous waste
    19 12 02  Ferrous metal
    19 12 03  Non-ferrous metal
    20 01 33*  Lead batteries
    20 01 40  Metals

     
  3. All waste entering the Authorised Place must be inspected to ensure it meets the types and quantities authorised.
     
  4. Waste identified at the Authorised Place which is not authorised must be:

    a. 
    stored on an impermeable surface with a sealed drainage system;

    b. stored separately from other waste; and

    c. removed from the Authorised Place as soon as reasonably practicable.
     
  5. The Authorised Place must be secured to prevent unauthorised access to the waste.
     
  6. The maximum storage limit of hazardous waste is 20 tonnes at any time.
     
  7. All waste storage areas must be clearly labelled to allow the identification of:

    a. the waste type(s) being stored; and

    b. the hazards presented by each waste type.
     
  8. Waste must be stored and treated on hardstanding or an impermeable surface that drains to a sealed drainage system.
     
  9. The height of any pile or stack of metal waste must not exceed 5 metres.
     
  10. Lead acid batteries must be stored:

    a. upright with the electrical connectors pointing upwards;


    b. in impermeable containers with an acid resistant base; and

    c. unless stored under weatherproof covering, with a lid to prevent the ingress of water.
     
  11. Catalytic converters must be stored in a manner that prevents the metal casing being damaged or pierced.
     
  12. All waste must be treated on an impermeable surface that drains to a sealed drainage system.
     
  13. There must be no treatment of lead acid batteries, other than sorting and separating from other wastes.
     
  14. There must be no treatment of catalytic converters (including decanning), other than sorting and separating from other wastes.
     
  15. Hazardous waste must not be mixed, either with a different category of hazardous waste, or with any other waste, substances, or materials.
     
  16. Measures must be taken to prevent, or where that is not practicable, minimise:

    a. 
    odour;

    b. noise;

    c. dust;

    d. litter; and

    e. the presence of vermin;

    arising from the authorised activities.
     
  17. Offensive odours from the authorised activities as perceived by a SEPA Officer must not be emitted beyond the boundary of the Authorised Place.
     
  18. Noise from the authorised activities, which has a significant impact on the environment, people or property, must not be emitted beyond the boundary of the Authorised Place.
     
  19. Dust from the authorised activities, which has a significant impact on the environment, people or property, must not be emitted beyond the boundary of the Authorised Place.
     
  20. Litter from the authorised activities, which has a significant impact on the environment, people or property, must not be emitted beyond the boundary of the Authorised Place.
     
  21. Waste must not be burned at the Authorised Place.
     
  22. SEPA must be notified via its pollution hotline contact telephone number as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 24 hours of identification of an event, of any of the following:

    a. an event that has caused or could cause adverse impact to the environment or harm to human health;

    b. 
    an event that results, or could result, in an emission to the environment that is not authorised;

    c. an event that has caused a breach of a condition of this authorisation.

    In this condition, the meaning of ‘event’ is as defined in the Interpretation of Terms of this authorisation.
     
  23. All measures that are reasonably practicable must be taken to stop an event and to minimise its effect on the environment.
     
  24. Within 14 days of an event a report must be submitted to SEPA detailing:

    a. the reason(s) for the event;


    b. the action(s) taken to stop the event and minimise the impacts; and

    c. the action(s) taken to prevent the event from recurring.
     
  25. All information recorded, kept or submitted to SEPA in accordance with a condition of this authorisation must be: 

    a. true and accurate;

    b. kept for a minimum of six years; and

    c. provided to SEPA upon request.
     
  26. For each calendar year the information detailed in Appendix 1 must be submitted to SEPA on or before 28 January in the following year.
     
  27. The information detailed in Appendix 1 must be submitted to SEPA via email, in the excel spreadsheet supplied by SEPA, to waste.data@sepa.org.uk.

Interpretation of terms

Interpretation of terms
Term Interpretation
Battery Any source of electrical energy generated by direct conversion of chemical energy and consisting of one or more primary battery cells (non-rechargeable) or one or more secondary battery cells (rechargeable, an accumulator), but does not include—

(a) equipment connected with the protection of essential security interests, arms, munitions and war material, with the exclusion of products that are not intended for specifically military purposes, or

(b) equipment designed to be sent into space.
 
Environmental harm (a) harm to the health of human beings or other living organisms.

(b) harm to the quality of the environment, including:

    (i) harm to the quality of the environment taken as a whole,
    (ii) harm to the quality of air, water or land, and
    (iii) other impairment of, or interference with, ecosystems,

(c) offence to the senses of human beings,

(d) damage to property, or

(e) impairment of, or interference with, amenities or other legitimate uses of the environment.
Event (a) any accident which has caused or could cause environmental harm; or
 
(b) any malfunction, breakdown or failure of plant, infrastructure or techniques which has caused or could cause environmental harm; or

(c) force majeure or action taken to save human life or limb.
Hardstanding Ground that is surfaced with a durable and hard material to create a level, load-bearing and permeable surface that:

(a)    does not accumulate rainwater or water run-off and,

(b)    is not susceptible to rutting or potholes.
Hazardous waste Has the same meaning as ‘special waste’ in Regulation 2 of The Special Waste Regulations 1996.
Impermeable surface A surface constructed of concrete or a similar impermeable material to a standard sufficient to prevent the transmission of liquids beyond the surface and should be read in conjunction with the term “sealed drainage system”.
List of wastes The list of wastes established by Commission Decision 2000/532/EC replacing Decision 94/3/EC establishing a list of wastes pursuant to Article 1(a) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and Council Decision 94/904/EC establishing a list of hazardous waste pursuant to Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste, as amended from time to time.
Recovery Any operation, including storage, the principal result of which is waste serving a useful purpose by replacing other materials which would otherwise have been used to fulfil that function, in the plant or in the wider economy and includes, but is not limited to the activities listed in Annex II of the Waste Framework Directive.
Sealed container A container which is fully enclosed, weatherproof, does not allow any solid or liquid content to escape and is lockable.
Sealed drainage system In relation to an impermeable surface, a drainage system with impermeable components which does not leak and which will ensure that:

(a) no liquid will run off the pavement otherwise than via the system; and

(b) except where they may be lawfully discharged, all liquids entering the system are collected in a sealed sump.
SEPA Officer Any person who is authorised in writing by SEPA under section 108 of the Environment Act 1995. 
Storage Storage, in relation to waste, includes the keeping, managing, and depositing of waste. 
Treatment Recovery or disposal operations, including preparation prior to recovery or disposal.
Unauthorised access Access by any person who is not permitted to enter the Authorised Place.
Waste code The six-digit code referable to a type of waste in accordance with the List of Waste and in relation to hazardous waste, includes the asterisk.
Waste directive Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste, as last amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851, and read in accordance with section 75A Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Weatherproof covering A container or roofed building designed, constructed, and maintained to prevent the ingress of rain and water run-off.

Rationale

This activity will apply to the storage and treatment of a range of metal wastes for recovery.

The permitted waste types will be limited to common metal wastes. Waste motor vehicles, whether de-polluted or not, are not included in the proposed list of authorised waste types. Waste motor vehicles should be managed through specialist Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs).

Treatment will be limited to sorting, separation, grading, cutting shearing, baling, compacting and granulating of cables. Any other forms of treatment are not covered by this authorisation.

No more than 10,000 tonnes of waste metal can be at the site at any one time.

No more than 20 tonnes of hazardous wastes can be at the site at any one time.

There are specific standard conditions relating to the safe storage and management of lead acid batteries and catalytic convertors which are the only hazardous waste authorised.

The list of proposed authorised wastes does not allow for the storage of end-of-life (ELV) vehicles or other oil contaminated waste types. We therefore consider these wastes can be stored on either a hardstanding area or on an impermeable surface served by a sealed drainage system. This is in line with the approach to ELV sites where only un-depolluted ELVs are required to be stored on an impermeable surface and other metal wastes can be stored on hardstanding.

21. Do you agree with the list of standard conditions for the Storage and treatment of less than, or equal to, 10,000 tonnes of metal waste for recovery at any one time?