Zeela Ltd Waste Management Policy

Introduction

The Company must ensure that all these wastes are disposed of responsibly, using approved, registered waste contractors.

Policy Statement

The Company will adopt the principles of the ‘best practicable environmental option’ in the delivery of its waste management services. The Company will apply a ‘waste hierarchical approach’, to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover waste products in preference to the disposal of waste to landfill.

There is a legal requirement for all who produce, keep or dispose of waste of any type to comply with the various regulations and the Duty of Care under Environmental Protection legislation. The Company recognizes the importance of meeting these legal requirements and managing its waste responsibly, reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills and maximize reuse and recycling where possible.

The Policy Statement Zeela Ltd will fulfil the following policy objectives.

Policy Objectives

The objectives of this policy are:

  • To ensure that waste management is performed by all waste legislative requirements.
  • To minimize waste generation at source and facilitate repair, reuse, and recycling over the disposal of wastes, where it is cost-effective.
  • To ensure the safe handling and storage of wastes at office.
  • To provide appropriate training for staff.

Application

This policy applies to all activities undertaken by (or on behalf of) Zeela Ltd including its staff, supply chain partners, and clients.

Organisation and Management

The Managing Director is responsible for the Waste Management and Environmental performance of the Company. In particular, this will require him to:

  • Review the Policies to ensure that they remain comprehensive, relevant, and up to date.
  • Assign duties to key staff to apply the Policies throughout the Company.
  • Ensure the implementation of the Company’s environmental management system and waste management policy contained within this document.
  • Maintain records of employee environmental and health & safety training,
  • Provide all new employees with a copy of this Policy

Employees

All employees are accountable through the management structure for conforming to the requirements of this policy and of statutory requirements. In particular, every employee is required to:

  • Take care and attention to the environment.
  • Co-operate in fulfilling the company’s pursuit of continuous environmental and waste management improvement.
  • Be familiar with and implement this policy.
  • Conform to the requirements of the project environmental and waste management plan, where applicable. Glossary of Terms
Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO)

The Best Practicable Environmental Option refers to the analysis of different methods of waste disposal. The preferred option is the one that minimizes harm to the environment as a whole, considering what is affordable and practicable.

Clinical Waste

Any waste which consists wholly or partly of:

  • human or animal tissue.
  • blood or other body fluids.
  • excretions.
  • drugs or other pharmaceutical products other than controlled or cytotoxic drugs
  • swabs or dressings.
  • syringes, needles, or other sharp instruments, which unless rendered safe may prove hazardous to any person coming into contact with it. It also includes any other waste arising from medical, nursing, dental, veterinary, pharmaceutical or similar practice, investigation, treatment, care, teaching or research, or the collection of blood for transfusion, being waste which may cause infection to any person coming into contact with it.

    Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA 1990)

This is the single most important piece of environmental legislation, and it controls many aspects of how the environment is protected and regulated. The EPA 1990 (amended 1995) provides the main statutory framework about waste.

Hazardous Waste

These are the most dangerous wastes as they can cause the greatest environmental damage or are dangerous to human health. These wastes are listed in The List of Wastes (England) Regulations 2005. Some common hazardous wastes are listed below:

  • Batteries Waste Oils Paint
  • Solvents Computer Monitors
  • Other hazardous wastes, such as asbestos and radioactive substances, are subject to their specific legislation.

Recycling

The diversion of waste away from landfills incineration and the reprocessing of those wastes either into the same product or a different one. This mainly includes non-hazardous wastes such as paper, glass, cardboard, plastic, and scrap metal.

Waste

The legal definition of waste comes from Section 75(2) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA 1990). It defines waste as any substance or object which the holder discards, intends to discard, or is required to discard. The EPA 1990 refers ‘to controlled wastes’ are split into four categories: Household, commercial, industrial and clinical waste. The Site produces waste in all four categories. Some waste is exempted as they have their separate legislation e.g., radioactive wastes.

Waste Hierarchy

The hierarchy lists the different ways of dealing with waste in order of preference.

1. Reduce

Also known as waste minimization to reduce the number of waste materials being produced.

2. Re-use

To continually re-use an item to eliminate the use of resources in making new items.

3.Recovery

Recycling – The collection and reprocessing of wastes either into the same product or a different one. Composting – biological decomposition of organic material to create soil conditioner. Energy – waste is incinerated and the heat is recovered to generate energy.

4.Disposal

Waste is sent, untreated, to landfill.