7. Waste storage, segregation, transfer and handling
Appropriate measures for waste storage, segregation, transfer and handling.
The following measures apply to all processes and operations.
1. Your facility must have enough physical and permitted capacity for the wastes, raw materials and 鈥榚nd of waste鈥� materials that you store on site.
2. You must comply with the limits set in your environmental permit and with any additional regulatory requirements that may apply, for example, the:
- Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013
- COMAH regulations
3. You must store all waste on an impermeable surface with contained drainage that meets the recommendations of CIRIA 736.
4. Storage area drainage must:
- contain all possible contaminated run off
- prevent incompatible wastes coming into contact with each other
- make sure that fire cannot spread
- be designed to allow access for inspection and cleaning
5. Where possible you must keep clean rainwater separate from wastes and waste waters to limit storage requirements.
6. You must store waste in locations that minimise handling waste and have handling procedures in place.
Only competent staff must handle waste. They must use appropriate equipment.
7. Where possible, you must locate storage areas away from watercourses and sensitive perimeters (for example those close to public rights of way, housing or schools).
8. You must store all waste within the security protected area of your facility to prevent unauthorised access and vandalism.
9. Your management system and odour management plan must clearly state the maximum storage capacity of the site and the designated storage areas.
10. You must provide signage that clearly states the maximum quantity and types of waste that can be stored in an area. You must communicate these maximum capacities to site operatives.
11. You must define capacity in clear terms, for example:
- maximum tank or vessel capacities
- tonnage
- number of pallets or containers
12. You must regularly monitor the quantity of waste stored on the site and in designated areas to check you do not exceed the maximum storage capacities.
13. For in vessel composting and AD, available storage capacity and throughput will be influenced by the period of time the waste is in the treatment vessels. You must make sure you have sufficient capacity to store waste inputs and outputs, taking account of the loading rate and capacity for treatment. Information on determining capacity is available in Regulatory Guidance Note 2.
14. You must store highly putrescible wastes, including odorous and ammonia-rich wastes and wastes containing animal by-products, in a contained or enclosed building.
The building should be fitted with an appropriately engineered extraction and ventilation system, with the air extracted and directed to a suitable abatement system. You can install localised point source air extraction in buildings to minimise a source emission from that locality.
For liquid wastes this is either:
- a sealed tank fitted with an air control system which may include air circulation
- local extraction to a gas recovery plant or engineered abatement system
15. Your storage areas must be large enough to manage foreseeable changes in feedstock supply and your ability to despatch outputs without causing pollution. For example, during:
- public holidays
- periods of adverse weather
- seasonal peak volumes of waste acceptance
16. You must not over accumulate wastes. You must treat wastes or remove them from the site as soon as possible. You must prioritise the treatment or off-site transfer of waste based on:
- its type
- its age on arrival
- date of arrival
- duration of storage on site
17. Storage area surfaces used for putrescible waste must be of a type and quality suitable for effective cleaning and or disinfection. You must put procedures in place and use them to make sure that surfaces are regularly cleaned or disinfected (or both).
18. You must design your storage facilities and procedures to make sure there is no cross-contamination between inputs and outputs of the process, and during the treatment cycle (where applicable). For example, during the sanitisation and stabilisation of composting waste.
19. For waste in storage you must follow the first-in, first-out principle. You must also identify and prioritise dealing with wastes with a higher risk of causing odour, litter or pest problems. You can do this by filling and emptying bays alternately or operating an all-in, all-out approach.
20. You must make your on-site waste inventory readily available.
21. You site must have safe pedestrian and vehicular access (for example, for forklifts) (at all times) to storage areas so that you can retrieve waste safely.
22. You must design bunkers, bays and pits so that waste and debris does not build-up in inaccessible areas such as corners. You must regularly clean bunkers, bays and pits.
The following measures apply to all processes and operations.
1. You must locate all above ground tanks used for storing and treating waste on an impermeable surface with secondary containment.
2. You must have a drainage plan.
3. You must use tanks and associated equipment that are suitably designed, constructed and maintained.
4 You must do a risk assessment to validate the design and operation of bulk storage systems.
5. You must make sure any new tanks and equipment are leakproof and working correctly before using them.
6. You must cover all bulk storage tanks. Where possible you must contain and vent tanks and vessels through suitable abatement, or direct emission to a gas recovery system.
7. Storage systems must conform to the following CIRIA guidance:
- C535 Above ground proprietary prefabricated oil storage tank systems (where relevant)
- C736 Containment systems for the prevention of pollution
8. You must locate bulk storage vessels on an impermeable surface which is resistant to the material being stored. The surface must have self contained drainage to prevent any spillage entering the storage systems or escaping off site. Impermeable surfaces must have sealed construction joints.
9. Secondary containment (bunds) must:
- be constructed to
- have regular visual inspections 鈥� you must pump out or otherwise remove any contents under manual control after checking for contamination
- be fitted with a high level probe and an alarm
- have tanker connection points within the bund or provide adequate containment for spillages or leakage
- have programmed engineering inspections (extending to water testing if structural integrity is in doubt)
- be emptied of rainwater regularly to maintain the containment capacity
10. You must be able to close all connections to vessels, tanks and secondary containment using suitable valves. You must fit a valve close to the tank if you have bottom outlets and have at least 2 isolation points in case of valve failure.
11. You must direct overflow pipes to a contained drainage system (for example the relevant secondary containment) or to another vessel where suitable control measures are in place.
The following measures apply to all processes and operations.
1. All below-ground tanks (including those partially and fully submerged) used for storing and treating waste must be constructed with secondary containment and an engineered leak detection system. They must be constructed in accordance with CIRIA 736 or an alternative recognised standard.
2. All tanks must have alarms and cut-out systems or an inspection process designed to prevent and detect over topping and leakage.
3. All storage tanks that require additional management, including agitation, active gas collection or aeration, must be contained and the air collected and appropriately abated or recovered.
The following measures apply to all processes and operations.
1. You must make sure lagoons and tanks used for storing composting liquors and digestate have enough capacity to account for times when the landbank is unavailable. Document these procedures in your management system. You must prearrange a contingency so you have adequate storage.
2. Lagoons must have a freeboard of at least 750mm at all times.
You must cover new lagoons with an engineered, impermeable, rigid or flexible cover. They must have gas collection and extraction to abatement or a gas recovery system. All new lagoons must be constructed in accordance with CIRIA 736.
3. Existing lagoons must be risk-assessed by a suitably qualified engineer. You must maintain the structural integrity of the lagoon. You must address and resolve any problems identified during the assessment.
4. Existing lagoons can use floating covers or a crust (formed where there is a high dry matter content) to manage emissions. Coverage must be sufficient to minimise the surface to air ratio to prevent emissions.
5. Floating covers must:
- be applied in line with manufacturers鈥� recommendations and re-applied as necessary
- cover the whole surface area
6. You must design fixed lagoon covers to prevent emissions. Use them to prevent rainwater ingress and reduce the volume of material stored. More information on how to control emissions specifically from slurry stores is available in the intensive farming environmental permitting guidance.
The following measures apply to all processes and operations.
1. You must store all waste containers, for example drums and IBCs in a way that allows safe access and inspection.
2. Where practicable, you must store containerised waste under cover. Covered areas must have good ventilation. This applies to any container held in storage, reception (pending acceptance) or quarantine.
Under cover storage provides better protection for containers than open air storage and minimises production of contaminated water. Covered storage also:
- lowers temperature fluctuations that can cause a pressure build-up in containers
- reduces container degradation through weathering
3. Where wastes are known to be sensitive to heat, light, air or water, you must make sure they are protected from such ambient conditions. These storage provisions apply to any container held in any storage area, or which is being emptied, sorted, repackaged or otherwise managed.
4. You must empty, re-package or otherwise manage containerised waste under cover. If this activity could produce emissions, you must carry it out in an enclosed building with suitable air extraction, abatement and drainage.
5. All waste containers must be fit for purpose, that is:
- undamaged
- not corroded, if metal
- have well fitting lids
- suitable for the contents
- with caps, valves and bungs in place and secure
- within the manufacturers鈥� use by date, particularly for plastic containers (this does not apply to certified compostable packaging destined for treatment)
6. You must check on a daily basis any containers (and pallets they may be stored on) for leaks and spills.
7. Containers and pallets must be made safe where there is evidence or risk of spills.
8. You must label all containers during storage in the way they were labelled at acceptance. You must handle and store containers so that the label is readily visible and continues to be legible.
9. You must deal with poorly labelled or unlabelled containers, for example, by re labelling, over drumming and transferring the container鈥檚 contents.
10. You must not use containers, tanks and vessels beyond their specified design life. You must only use them for the purpose, or substances, they were designed for.
11. To minimise emissions and reduce spills, you must maintain the integrity of waste packaging at all times, until it enters the treatment process.
12. You must never throw, walk on or handle wastes in a way that might damage the integrity of the packaging.
13. You must train forklift drivers in how to handle palletised goods to minimise forklift truck damage to the integrity of containers.
14. You must design and operate your facility in a way that minimises waste handling.
15. All containers must have a lid, and the lid must be closed except when the container is being sampled, loaded or unloaded.
16. You must not stack skips containing waste.
17. You must inspect storage areas, containers and infrastructure on a daily basis. You must deal with any issues immediately. You must keep written records of the inspections. You must rectify and log any waste spills.
18. You must only move wastes between different locations on site (or load for removal off site) following written procedures. You must amend your waste tracking system to record these changes where necessary.
19. You must not carry out activities with a clear fire risk within any storage area. Examples include:
- grinding
- welding or brazing metal
- smoking
- parking normal road vehicles, except while unloading
- recharging forklift truck batteries
20. If you need to carry out maintenance which may involve for example, grinding and welding, you must first remove all flammable materials. You must then carry out a detailed risk assessment following safe systems of work or permit to work.
This section also applies to the transfer of liquid effluents, digestate and slurries.
The following measures apply to all processes and operations.
1. You must transfer the waste from or to a tanker, or to a drum or tank, in a dedicated area.
2. You must have a documented process and make sure staff are trained on how to complete checks and transfers.
3. Your staff must supervise tanker discharges or transfers.
You should book in tankers and allow the appropriate amount of time for safe transfer.
4. You must have a system to prevent a vehicle pulling away whilst still coupled. You must have measures for making sure couplings are correctly fitted. This will prevent couplings from loosening or becoming detached.
5. You must provide, maintain and clean your own couplings to guarantee their integrity and fitness. You must also:
- make sure that a coupling can withstand the maximum shut valve pressure of the transfer pump
- maintain a sound coupling at each end of the transfer hose, even when a gravity feed system is in place, and you must protect the transfer hose
- contain all leaks or drips from coupling devices using as a minimum drip trays
6. You must make sure that transfers from tankers only take place after you have completed waste acceptance checks and then only with the approval of a responsible person. You must record:
- which batch or load of material is for transfer
- the receiving storage vessel
- the equipment required, including spillage control and recovery equipment
- any special provisions relevant to that batch or load, including minimising fugitive emissions
7. You must have measures for preventing over filling such as a shut-off valve.
8. You must only transfer waste after completing a suitable verification and after compatibility testing.
9. You must unload tankers containing animal by-products using a sealed pipe. You must do this in a building fitted with an appropriately designed and engineered air collection and abatement system.
10. You must carry out routine maintenance checks on pump seals and filter pots.
11. You must have emergency containment areas for leaking vehicles to prevent pollution.
You should have a lockable isolating valve fitted to the loading connection. This is kept locked during periods when the unloading points are not supervised.
12. If you use a delivery tanker to collect and transport digestate (from AD or TAD), you must make sure there is no risk of cross-contamination, for example delivering mixed food waste and leaving with pasteurised digestate.
13. You must have systems and procedures for making sure that wastes for transfer comply with when they are packaged and transported.
14. You must retain spillages within the contained areas and collect those promptly using pumps or absorbents. You must record any spillages.
15. If you use rotary type pumps, they must be equipped with a pressure control system and safety valve.
16. You must pump liquids and sludges instead of using open movement.
The following measures apply to all processes and operations.
1. You must inspect on a weekly basis all drainage channels, aeration channels and collection sumps to identify blockages caused by debris and condensate.
2. You must remove debris and clean the channels and sumps to prevent odour, pest infestations and maximise drainage and air flow through aeration channels.
3. You must appropriately characterise leachate or liquors sent for off-site recovery or disposal in line with WM3. This waste is coded as either 16 10 01* or 16 10 02 depending on assessment and characterisation.
The following measures apply to all processes and operations.
1. You must monitor substrate levels in all storage tanks, vessels and lagoons used to hold liquids, sludge鈥檚 and digestate.
2. Storage vessels used for liquids, sludges and digestate must have a freeboard as recommended by the plant manufacturer.
3. You must equip all storage tanks with an automatic level monitoring system and an associated alarm and cut-out out system to protect against over-filling. These systems must be sufficiently robust (for example, be able to work if sludge and foam are present) and regularly maintained.
4. A competent person must inspect tanks, pipework and fittings, following a written programme of inspection. A competent person must also determine the scope and frequency of the examination. You must work out how often to carry out these internal examinations using a risk assessment approach. This should be based on the:
- design, specified design life and intended use of tank, pipework or fittings
- age, maintenance and service history
- known and potential damage mechanisms and their rates of occurrence
- operational and thermal stresses
- influence of cyclic and pressure loadings
- bio-chemical influence of the substrate stored or carried
5. You must act on the results of all inspections and carry out any necessary repairs to make sure the tanks remain fit for service. You must keep records of the results of inspection and any repairs.
6. You must have systems in place to make sure that loading, unloading and storage are safe, considering any associated risks. This can include:
- having pipework and instrumentation diagrams
- using ticketing systems
- using key locked coupling systems
- having colour coded points, fittings and hoses
- using specific coupling or hose sizes for certain waste transfers
7. If you operate a new facility, you must cover tanks, vessels or lagoons that store or treat hazardous or liquid wastes with fixed covers.
8. The following must be fit for purpose and resistant to the wastes being stored and carried:
- pipes
- hoses
- connections
- couplings
- transfer lines
9. You must use a suitable pipework coding system (for example RAL European standard colour coding).
10. You must monitor the transfer of liquids and sludges between tanks and this must be linked to an alarm or cut-out system.
11. Your staff must supervise loading and unloading activities, either directly or using CCTV.
12. You must work out how often to carry out external inspections using non-destructive testing (NDT) methods.
13. You must schedule removing grit and sediment from storage tanks and lagoons at appropriate intervals, determined by a written programme of inspection. Grit and sediments removed from tanks and grit traps will be a waste when discarded and therefore subject to waste regulatory control. You must not deposit them into lagoons.