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

Closes 24 Nov 2024

1.2.14. Storage and preparation for reuse of waste (not including WEEE)

Standard conditions

Below is the list of core and activity-specific standard conditions for storage and preparation for reuse of waste (not including WEEE).

  1. The authorised person must have a written management system in place to ensure compliance with the conditions of this authorisation.
     
  2. Only waste suitable for preparation for reuse can be accepted at the Authorised Place.
     
  3. All waste entering the Authorised Place must be inspected to ensure it is suitable for preparation for reuse.
     
  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. Waste must be stored in a manner which does not prevent its preparation for reuse.
     
  7. 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.
     
  8. Offensive odours from the authorised activities as perceived by a SEPA Officer must not be emitted beyond the boundary of the Authorised Place.
     
  9. 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.
     
  10. 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.
     
  11. 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.
     
  12. Waste must not be burned at the Authorised Place.
     
  13. 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.
     
  14. All measures that are reasonably practicable must be taken to stop an event and to minimise its effect on the environment.
     
  15. 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.
     
  16. 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.
     
  17. For each calendar year the information detailed in Appendix 1 must be submitted to SEPA on or before 28 January in the following year.
     
  18. 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”.
Preparation for resuse Checking, cleaning or repairing recovery operations, by which products or components of products that have become waste are prepared so that they can be re-used without any other pre-processing.
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 Has the same meaning as in section 75 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Rationale

This activity will apply to the storage and preparation for reuse of waste (not including WEEE). 

Consideration was given to whether this activity would be better suited to a notification level authorisation. However, time constraints do not allow for the legislative changes needed to do this. Instead, this activity will be authorised as a non-chargeable registration level activity. 

The authorised waste types will be limited to those which are suitable for preparation for reuse and excludes WEEE. 

To maximise potential for reuse, waste must be stored in a way which does not prevent its preparation for reuse.

25. Do you agree with the list of standard conditions for the Storage and preparation for reuse of waste (not including WEEE)?