Unit 206 Environmental Protection in the Waste & Recycling Industry

7517 Principles of Sustainable Resource ManagementUnit 206 Understand Environmental Protection in the Waste and Recycling Industry

Learning outcomes There are three learning outcomes to this unit. The

learner will: 1. Understand potential hazards to the environment

when working in the waste & recycling industry 2. Understand how to reduce environmental impact

from waste and waste materials 3. Understand the impact of waste materials on the

environment

Understand potential hazards to the environment when working in the waste & recycling industry

Hazards that impact on the environment Emissions Releases of hazardous materials Discharge of liquids/waste Fly tipping Litter

All have an impact and cause harm

Environmental Risk Assessment Society is increasingly conscious of the harm that

its activities can cause to the environment, and the harm to people or the loss of quality of life that can result from environmental degradation.

Manage our activities to minimise risk Ensuring economic growth and social progress

Environmental Risk Assessment

Safety of public Environment

Land Water Air Wildlife Plants and crops

Environmental Risk Assessment

Risk assessors Environment agency Local government

Environmental Risk Assessmenthazards and risks

Hazard: The inherent potential

for something to cause harm.

Hazards can include substances, machines, energy forms, or the way work is carried out.

Risk: The likelihood that

harm will actually be done by the realisation of the hazard during the work being carried out or

by the way something is used.

Risk = Hazard × Exposure.

Environmental Risk Assessment The key stages

1. Hazard identification. Identifying the property or situation that could lead to harm

2. Identification of consequences if the hazard was to occur What could happen?

3. Estimation of the magnitude of the consequences Size and scale of the hazard

4. Estimation of the probability of the consequences Chance it could happen

5. Evaluating the significance of a risk likelihood of the hazard being realised and the severity of the

consequences.

Source-Pathway-ReceptorSources Pathways Receptors

Examples: Contaminated

soils Contaminated

water Leaking drums Industrial

process releases Hazardous

materials Waste

Examples: Air Water Soil Food chain

Examples: People Domestic and

commercial property

Infrastructure Ecosystems Animals Plants Controlled

waters

Exercise 1 Research harm to the environment of following

potential hazards: Emissions Releases of hazardous materials Discharge of liquids/waste Fly tipping Litter

Exercise 2

Research Statutory Nuisance What does it mean? What types of nuisances does it cover? Give an overview of with examples

Exercise 3

How do we reduce the impact on the environment when working with waste/recycling materials?

Give some examples of practice Research sustainable practices:

Life cycleGreen purchasingRoute planning/optimisingClosed loop packaging

Exercise 4 What hazards to the environment do the following

materials present:plastic packagingoils, solvents, paintschemicalsglass/metals

How can these be minimised? Identify principle legislation regarding waste

materials and the environment...

Statutory Nuisance Management of statutory nuisance is set out in

Part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The act places a duty on a local authority to investigate complaints of statutory nuisance from people living within its area.

Statutory Nuisance The following issues may constitute statutory

nuisances: Noise – from premises, or caused by a vehicle,

machinery or equipment in a street Artificial Light – from premises as to be prejudicial

to health or a nuisance Odour, smells or other effluvium Insects Smoke Dust

Statutory NuisanceContinued…Premises in such a state as to be prejudicial Steam, fumes or gasesAccumulation or depositAnimals kept in such a place or manner as to

be prejudicial to health or a nuisanceAny other matter declared by any enactment

to be a statutory nuisance

Statutory Nuisance Where a local authority establishes any one of these

issues constitutes a nuisance (i.e. is unreasonably interfering with the use or enjoyment of someone’s premises) or is prejudicial to health they must generally serve an abatement notice on the person responsible. Failure to comply with the notice could result in the person being prosecuted.

Litter, graffiti and dog fouling are not classed as a Statutory Nuisance.

Policies and Legislation Environmental Protection Act Duty of Care Hazardous Waste Regulations Waste Carriers Regulations Waste Strategy for England 2007 Waste Regulations 2011

n

Group discussion How does your organisation’s sites minimise the

impact to the environment? Think about and research:

Interceptors Wheel washing Containment Storage Pest/vermin control Oil bunds