Special Waste Amendment
Special Waste Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004
The Special Waste Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004 amend the Special Waste Regulations 1996 and came into force on 1 July 2004.
Special Waste is so called because it has hazardous properties that may render it harmful to human health or the environment. Examples of wastes classed as Special Waste include:
- asbestos;
- lead-acid batteries;
- electrical equipment containing hazardous components such as cathode ray tubes;
- oily sludges;
- solvents;
- fluorescent light tubes;
- chemical wastes; and
- pesticides.
In England, there has been some confusion between what is classed as Hazardous waste and that classed as Special waste. However, In Scotland, Special Waste and Hazardous Waste now have the same meaning because, under Scottish law, ‘Special Waste’ is any waste which is Hazardous Waste as defined by the European Hazardous Waste Directive.
What does this mean to the University?
The University already has arrangements in place to dispose of Special Waste. However, there are now more items that are classified as special waste and care must be taken to ensure that these are identified and disposed of in the right way e.g. schools / service directorates that use batteries, fluorescent lamps and waste electrical equipment that contains hazardous components.