Draft Business Waste Strategy PDF - london.gov.uk - Greater ...

Making waste work in London The Mayor’s Draft Business Waste Management Strategy Mayor of London 95
4D Making waste safe
Introduction
4.62 Hazardous waste may pose a risk to the environment and human health
and must be managed in accordance with the Hazardous Waste Directive
1991. Hazardous waste includes a range of products and materials from
batteries, fluorescent light bulbs and TV screens to oils, contaminated soils
and clinical wastes.
4.63 London produces one of the lowest amounts of hazardous waste of any
English region 211 . However, the absence of infrastructure to deal with it
within London, and the reduction in the number of available disposal sites
around the country 212 , means the cost of disposing of hazardous waste
to specialist sites has risen and that London’s hazardous wastes will have
to travel increasingly long distances for treatment and disposal, incurring
high haulage costs.
Take action
4.64 Hazardous waste arising from business operations may be disposed of
incorrectly by businesses that are unaware of the legislation and their
obligations to separate hazardous waste for specialist treatment and
disposal. The Environment Agency has produced guidance 213 for
determining the classification of wastes as hazardous or non-hazardous
and their HAZRED project aims to help small businesses prevent
and reduce the production of hazardous wastes, saving them money
in the process.
Case study 36 - A different kind of tube station offers
a sustainable solution
The suitable disposal of fluorescent tubes is a matter of concern, because
they contain highly toxic heavy metals, for example mercury. The Mayor
ensures that fluorescent tubes arising at City Hall are recycled through the
waste collection contract with Bywaters. Bywaters Tube Station System
offers a safe, reliable method of recycling fluorescent tubes.
Source: Greater London Authority
Case study 37 - Delivering greener print
In 2005, to replace its plate-making facility, Kent Art Printers were the
first to commit to using Kodak ‘No process’ plates, in the UK, having
worked closely with Kodak to commercialise it. The new plates have
reduced their water use in the pre-press by 100 per cent (31 per cent
of the total company use) and eliminated the disposal of 1,500 litres
of hazardous waste per year. Alcohol-free dampening on all presses
saves two tonnes of solvent emissions per annum.
Source: Business in the Community