New regulations governing the segregation and disposal of waste wood are scheduled to come into force next month.
Commencing 1 September, the new regulatory position statement (RPS) applies to hazardous waste wood removed from domestic premises, demolition sites and other business premises and undertakings. It allows operators with an existing environmental permit to:
- store hazardous waste wood at a waste transfer station
- process and mix hazardous waste wood with non-hazardous waste wood at a wood processing site
Demolition contractors will be required to identify, segregate and consign hazardous waste wood collected from demolition sites, and other business premises and undertakings under waste code 17 02 04*.
According to a new statement from the Environment Agency, you must:
- ensure all demolition and refurbishment waste wood is destined for an Industrial Emissions Directive Chapter IV compliant permitted incinerator or co-incinerator or for the manufacture of engineered or composite board
- have written systems and procedures to demonstrate you have followed industry published guidance on waste wood assessment
You cannot use this RPS for the following wood types:
- railway sleepers
- telegraph poles
- waste wood from hydraulic engineering, such as wood from docks
- waste wood from industrial applications such as cooling tower timbers, wood block flooring or moulds
- waste wood from boats, carriages and trailer beds
- waste wood treated with creosote
You must segregate and consign these excluded waste types as hazardous to sites permitted to accept hazardous waste wood.
You can find out more here.
