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Document Library / Hazardous Waste

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste can take many forms, and most businesses produce some form of it. From paints to fridges, items fall into this category when they contain substances that can harm people or the environment.

UK law requires hazardous waste to be documented with a consignment note during transport.

Your duty of care means you must ensure any waste your business produces or handles is managed safely. Understanding what qualifies as hazardous waste helps you stay compliant and protect the environment.

If you are unsure whether something is hazardous, contact our Helpdesk for further information.

Who Produces Hazardous Waste?

Most businesses produce some form of hazardous waste. This includes offices, schools, hotels, retailers, hospitals, factories, and cleaning companies.

Common examples include:

  • Batteries and aerosols from offices
  • Chemical cleaners from schools and hotels
  • Beauty products and small electrical items from retailers
  • Clinical materials from hospitals
  • Oils and solvents from factories
  • Strong disinfectants from cleaning companies

What Can Go In Your Hazardous Waste Collection?

Yes Please

  • Asbestos
  • Fluorescent tubes
  • Lab chemicals / lab smalls
  • Non-edible oils, such as engine oil
  • Other hazardous items, subject to confirmation
  • Packaging contaminated with hazardous substances, e.g., paint cans, oil cans, oily rags, spill kits, etc.
  • Paint
  • Refrigerators
  • Solvents, resins, and adhesives

Please contact our Helpdesk for more information on what can be collected as hazardous waste.

How is Hazardous Waste Collected?

Contact our Helpdesk with details of the hazardous waste you need to dispose of. Our specialist will help you determine the most appropriate collection method.

You will be asked to provide:

  • An itemised list, including the quantity of each item
  • Clear photos of each hazardous item, including close-ups of labels showing hazard symbols
  • A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), where available

Collections and prices depend on the items involved. One or more of the following containers or collection methods may be required:

  • 25L jerry can
  • 60L keg
  • 205L drum
  • 1100L Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)
  • 1M and 2M pipes for fluorescent tube transport

Collections can be arranged on an ad hoc basis or as part of a regular schedule, depending on your needs.

What Happens After Your Hazardous Waste is Collected?

After collection, different types of hazardous waste are sent to specialist facilities for appropriate treatment or recovery.

Adhesives

Sent to Williams Environmental, Watson Close, Grays RM20 3EF, where they are stored, repackaged and bulked before being sent off-site for Energy-from-Waste recovery through incineration.

CRT and broken TFT screens

Sent to SWEEEP Kuusakoski Ltd, Gas Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 2QB. Lead is removed in a high-temperature furnace, and clean glass is reused in construction products.

Detergents

Sent to Williams Environmental, Watson Close, Grays RM20 3EF, where they undergo temporary storage and physicochemical treatment before being sent off-site for aqueous incineration.

Fluorescent tubes

Sent to Recolight, Suite 265 Airport House, Purley Way, Croydon CR0 0XZ.The tubes are crushed and separated into glass, metals, and phosphor powder. Mercury is safely captured, and the remaining materials are reused.

Fridges

Sent to European Metal Recycling, Manor Road, Erith, Kent DA8 2AD.Refrigerants and blowing agents are removed before the units are shredded. Metals, plastics, and insulation are then recovered.

Lead acid batteries

Sent to Ecobat, Crescent Works, Willenhall Road, Darlaston, West Midlands WS10 8JR.The batteries are broken down, and the lead, plastic, and acid are separated. Lead is melted for reuse, plastic is recycled, and acid is neutralised or reused.

Oil

Sent to Williams Environmental, Watson Close, Grays RM20 3EF, where it is stored, repackaged, and bulked before being sent off-site to approved oil-recovery outlets for refining and reuse.

Paint (flammable)

Sent to Williams Environmental, Watson Close, Grays RM20 3EF, where it is stored, repackaged, and bulked before being sent off-site to Energy-from-Waste facilities for recovery.

Resin

Sent to Williams Environmental, Watson Close, Grays RM20 3EF, where it is stored, repackaged, and bulked before being sent off-site for Energy-from-Waste recovery through incineration.

Sanitisers

Sent to Williams Environmental, Watson Close, Grays RM20 3EF, where they are stored and repackaged before being sent off-site for solvent recovery, if ethanol-based, or to anaerobic digestion, where suitable.

Solvents

Sent to Williams Environmental, Watson Close, Grays RM20 3EF, where they undergo storage, repackaging, and physicochemical treatment before being sent off-site for solvent recovery, recycling, or use as kiln fuel.

How Does This Support Sustainability Goals?

Managing your hazardous waste properly with Recorra helps prevent harmful substances from entering the environment and ensures that the waste follows safe, compliant treatment routes.

This reduces pollution risks and supports resource efficiency by recovering materials where possible and reducing the need for new raw materials.

Stay Compliant

In the UK, all businesses must identify and classify their waste before it is collected or disposed of.

Businesses also have a legal ‘duty of care’ under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This is intended to ensure that waste is handled safely and does not harm people or the environment.

If your business produces hazardous waste, you must ensure that it is:

  • Stored securely and separately from non-hazardous waste
  • Clearly labelled
  • Transferred only to authorised waste carriers
  • Described accurately on the relevant documentation

Recorra is an authorised waste carrier and operates in accordance with relevant waste legislation.

Recorra will provide a Hazardous Waste Consignment Note for every hazardous waste collection as required under the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005.

You are legally required to:

  • Ensure the waste is described accurately on the consignment note
  • Sign the documentation to confirm details are correct
  • Keep each consignment note for at least three years
  • Produce the records if requested by the environmental regulator

Find out more about waste duty of care here.

Did you know?

  • Hazardous materials that are handled improperly can contaminate soil and cause long-term ecological damage.
  • Safe disposal helps protect water systems. Hazardous substances can pollute groundwater, rivers, and aquatic ecosystems, harming wildlife and compromising drinking-water sources.
  • Hazardous waste recycling can reduce air, water, and soil pollution associated with extracting and processing new materials. It can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Certain sanitising products containing ethanol can support solvent recovery or be used in anaerobic digestion. This contributes to resource recovery and reduces environmental impact.

FAQs

  • Contact Recorra’s Helpdesk to reach our hazardous waste specialist. They can help you classify your waste and understand the steps required to dispose of it legally.

  • Businesses in the UK must identify and classify their waste before sending it for recycling or disposal. This ensures that anyone handling the waste has the information needed to manage it properly.

    You have a duty of care to ensure that hazardous waste produced or handled by your business causes no harm or damage. A hazardous waste consignment note will be provided for each collection, and you are legally required to keep a copy for three years.

  • You will need to provide Recorra with:

    • An itemised list, including the quantity of each item
    • Clear photos of each item, showing all relevant labels and hazard symbols
    • A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), where available

  • Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are hazardous chemical pollutants that resist natural breakdown and can remain in the environment for exceptionally long periods.

    Items containing POPs require specific handling to minimise environmental impact and ensure compliance.

Start Your Hazardous Waste Journey Today

Want to dispose of your hazardous waste the right way? Get an instant quote today or contact our team for a bespoke service plan that fits your business needs.

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