The Environment Agency (EA) want your views on their proposals with an open consultation to change standard rules permits for the non-hazardous and inert waste, and metals recycling sectors including vehicle depollution and dismantling.
The EA propose to withdraw the existing suite of standard rules permits for waste operations in the non-hazardous and inert waste sector and replace them with new ones.
They will move operators who have the existing permits onto the same new standard rules permits as those available for new operators. This will ensure consistent appropriate standards and consolidate and simplify similar permits. Some of the new standard rules permits will allow a wider range of activities, giving operators more flexibility.
The EA is also consulting on changes to the following standard rules permits for the metals recycling sector:
- SR 2008 No. 20 – vehicle depollution and dismantling
- SR 2008 No. 21 – metal recycling site
- SR 2008 No. 22 – storage of 75kte furnace-ready scrap
- SR 2009 No. 7 – storage of furnace-ready scrap
- SR 2011 No. 2 – metal recycling
- SR 2011 No. 3 – vehicle depollution and dismantling
- SR 2012 No. 14 – metal recycling and vehicle depollution and dismantling
- SR 2015 No. 13 – vehicle depollution and dismantling
- SR 2015 No. 14 – metal recycling site
- SR 2015 No. 16 – metal recycling site
- SR 2015 No. 17 – vehicle depollution and dismantling
- SR 2015 No. 18 – metal recycling and vehicle depollution and dismantling
On pages 13-14 of the Standard rules consultation 25 document, it states the following:
- Proposed changes to metal recycling rule sets
“We are proposing to amend table 2.1 in the following standard rules permits: SR2008 No. 20, SR2008 No. 21, SR2011 No. 2, SR2011 No. 3, SR2012 No. 14, SR2015 No. 13, SR2015 No. 14, SR2015 No. 16, SR2015 No. 17, SR2015 No. 18.
The current wording in table 2.1 is “There shall be no treatment of lead acid batteries, other than sorting and separating from other wastes”.
We are proposing to change the wording to “There shall be no treatment of batteries, other than sorting and separating from other wastes”.
The proposed amendment is to clarify that the permits prohibit battery treatments other than sorting and segregation for onward recycling.
Until very recently lead acid batteries were the predominant battery chemistry that metal recycling and end of life vehicle sites were accepting. This was why the current wording in table 2.1 specifically relates to lead acid batteries. With the increase of hybrid and electric vehicles other battery chemistries will start to be accepted. We want to make it clear that the treatment of any battery chemistry is not authorised by these permits. Operators seeking to carry out treatment activities other than sorting and separating them from other waste will need to vary their permit to enable them to do this.
The conditions of the standard rules permits and the associated risk assessments do not assess or mitigate the risks posed by battery treatment processes. The recovery of metals and other materials from batteries pose different risks to general metal recycling and vehicle dismantling operations. Depending on the battery chemistry and process used, the emissions generated will require additional abatement and monitoring. The treatment of batteries must also meet the requirements set out in Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators.”
The consultation is open until 13 September. To provide your views, go to www.consult.environment-agency.gov.uk
