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

Closes 24 Nov 2024

1.2.9. Storage and treatment of less than, or equal to, 100,000 cubic metres of waste in a 12-month period within the boundary of a water treatment works or a wastewater treatment works (including the sludge treatment facility)

Standard conditions

Below is the list of core and activity-specific standard conditions for storage and treatment of less than, or equal to, 100,000m3 of waste in a 12-month period within the boundary of a water treatment works or a wastewater treatment works (including the sludge treatment facility).

  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 waste from water treatment works or wastewater treatment works
    Waste Code Authorised Wastes
    16 10 02  Waste from portable and chemical toilets 
    19 08 01  Screenings
    19 08 02  Sewage grit
    19 08 05  Sludges from treatment of urban waste water
    19 08 99  Centrate liquor only 
    19 09 02  Sludges from water clarification 
    19 09 03  Sludges from decarbonisation 
    19 09 06 Solutions and sludges from regeneration of ion exchangers 
    20 03 04  Septic tank sludge 
    20 03 06  Waste from sewer cleaning 
    20 03 99  Cesspool waste and other sewage sludge only 
  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. 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.
     
  7. All storage and treatment activities must be carried out on an impermeable surface that drains to a sealed drainage system.
     
  8. All liquid waste must be stored in containers within a secondary containment system, which must:

    a. hold at least:

       i. for a single container, 110% of its capacity; or
       ii. for two or more containers, the greater of:

          1. 110% of the capacity of the largest container; or
          2. 25% of the capacity of all containers together.

    b. catch all spills from the container(s) and related parts;

    c. be leak-proof;

    d. be located, and/or protected, to prevent damage as far as reasonably practicable; and

    e. have any spills and/or rainwater removed as soon as reasonably practicable.
     
  9. 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.
     
  10. Offensive odours from the authorised activities as perceived by a SEPA Officer must not be emitted beyond the boundary of the Authorised Place.
     
  11. 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.
     
  12. 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.
     
  13. 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.
     
  14. Waste must not be burned at the Authorised Place.
     
  15. 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.
     
  16. All measures that are reasonably practicable must be taken to stop an event and to minimise its effect on the environment.
     
  17. 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.  
     
  18. 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.
     
  19. For each calendar year the information detailed in Appendix 1 must be submitted to SEPA on or before 28 January in the following year.
     
  20. 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
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.
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 waste The list of waste 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.
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. 
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.

Rationale

This activity will apply to the storage and treatment of wastes within the boundary of a water or wastewater treatment works.

The permitted waste types will be limited to those associated with the treatment of water and wastewater such as grit, screenings, and sludge.

It will also authorise wastes to be brought from other places or works for storage and treatment.

Treatment will be limited to physical processes such as separation, thickening, dewatering and blending. Treatment will not include anaerobic digestion or thermal treatment.

To prevent fugitive emissions to surface water, sewer or land, all liquids must be stored in suitable containers stored within a secondary containment system. Containers and secondary containment systems must be maintained to meet the condition objectives. 

19. Do you agree with the list of standard conditions for the Storage and treatment of less than, or equal to, 100,000m3 of waste in a 12-month period within the boundary of a water treatment works or a wastewater treatment works (including the sludge treatment facility)?