Yesterday DEFRA issued a reminder to companies to check their waste movements and environmental licences and exemptions (as respects waste).
This reminder is here.
If you or your business collects, transports or stores waste that is due to be exported to the EU, your existing permit or licence still applies and you are expected to continue to meet its conditions.
Given anticipated disruption at some ports, you should make a plan to minimise any impacts on your business:
• review your own capacity and how long you can store waste on your site
• identify alternative storage facilities that could accept your waste
• assess if there are other export routes to market that avoid impacted ports
• identify any alternative recovery or disposal routes for your waste
• contact your haulage operator to discuss any potential changes to transport plans
If you do change your export route, you will also need to change your export notification. This must be agreed by the UK and overseas competent authority. In England, you can contact the Environment Agency for advice, or contact the equivalent competent authority if you are in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
If you have to keep additional waste on your site for longer than expected, you will need to consider any resulting environmental risks and take steps to keep these properly controlled.
Your contingency plans need to be compatible with the requirements on your permit. In England, if you are unable to make adequate contingency plans you should contact the Environment Agency for advice.
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