Waste management - England Golf

The Maintenance Facility:
Best practice guide to the management of selected maintenance streams
Best Practice Guidelines
Spillage
Your golf club should stock a minimum of
one emergency oil spill kit in an easily
accessible area close to any part of the
golf course where oil/fuel is likely to be
used.
Following the use of an oil spill kit, the
crystals/sand used to absorb the oil must
be treated as hazardous waste and
removed via a licensed contractor.
A contingency plan must be put into place
so that every member of staff is aware of
the procedure should an oil/fuel spillage
occur.
Detergents should never be used to clean
up oil spills as they reduce the surface
tension and aid dispersal.
Storage
Locate an appropriate storage facility in an
appropriate area of the golf course in
excess of 10 metres from a water body or
50 metres from a well or bore hole.
Site the storage facility on a bunded hard
standing area leading to the waste water
treatment plant. The waste oil storage
facility should be constructed in exactly the
same way as the virgin oil/fuel storage
facility. Empty oil or fuel containers should
be stored within the waste oil storage
facility on an impervious base. Any water
collected within an oil storage bund must
be treated as hazardous waste and
collected by a licensed contractor.
Disposal
Oil
The problem with oil
Oil takes many forms and is used in numerous tasks throughout the golf club
environment. Petrol, diesel, two-stroke oil, machinery lubricants, etc. are all oil-based
products and when they become surplus to requirements, must be appropriately
managed.
Most golf clubs in the 21st century are aware of the environmental devastation caused
by inappropriate oil disposal and also equally aware of the potential legal implications
for uncontrolled dumping. Accidental spillage and leaks of unburned fuel oils, and runoff
of lubricating oils from washing maintenance machinery, are therefore the most
significant oil-related pollution incidents on golf courses.
If allowed to enter the local fresh water matrix, oil will form a film above the water's
surface thus preventing oxygen from circulating and eventually leading to the death of
submerged aquatic flora and fauna. Five litres of oil (or an oil-based material) is
enough to cover and kill a pond measuring 1.5 hectares. Furthermore, mobile animals
and birds coming into contact with oil will become coated, thus reducing their ability to
move and feed within the wider countryside.
Legislation relating to oil
The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations 2003, The Environmental Protection
Act 1990, The Control of Pollution Act 1974 (as amended), the Waste Management
Licensing Regulations 1994, The Special Works Regulations 1996, The Groundwater
Regulations 1998 and The Water Framework Director all impart stringent controls on
the appropriate storage and disposal of oil, both virgin and waste. The storage of any
oil-based product in volumes above 200 litres must comply with the relevant
legislation, i.e. within a facility sited 10 metres from a water body or 50 metres from a
well or bore hole with a bund capable of holding 110% of its volume.
Oil must never be disposed of into drains or other watercourses and only designated
licensed operators can accept waste oil. Oils must never be mixed with other
substances, i.e. solvents, paint thinners, etc., and, following appropriate storage, can
only be removed from site via a contractor with the appropriate licence.
Given the complexity of oil storage and disposal licensing, and for further information,
contact the Environment Agency, or visit www.netregs.gov.uk.
Many oils can be recycled and will be of
value to licensed collection agents. Only
use contractors who will recycle the oil
following collection.
Small amounts of oil can be taken to a
local oil recycling depot for treatment.
Your local oil recycling centre can be found
by calling 08708 506506.
On-site oil recycling
facilities are becoming
increasingly popular
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Best Practice Approach for English and Welsh Golf Clubs
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