Treatment

Treatment involves the physical, thermal, chemical or biological processing (or combination e.g. physico-chemical) of waste to change the characteristics of the waste.

Overview

Treatment involves the physical, thermal, chemical or biological processing (or combination e.g. physico-chemical) of waste to change the characteristics of the waste such that.

• the volume of the waste reduces; or
• the hazardous nature of the waste reduces;or
• it facilitates its handling; or
• enhances its recovery

All wastes are required to have been pre-treated prior to Disposal at Landfill.

Waste producers must either treat their own waste and provide information about the treatment method used for subsequent holders of the waste to ensure that the waste will be treated by a subsequent holder before it is landfilled. Waste producers are not obliged to treat the waste themselves and are able to use a waste contractor to perform this function for them.

Guidance/Compliance

The most recent publication of Best Available Technique (BAT) for treatment was in August 2018 (building on standards that were developed in 2006 and reviewed in 2013) and the UK had 4 years to review and implement any changes that might arise.

In the UK the guidance for recovery and disposal were developed in parallel with the the EU guidance. The EA originally published their Sector Guidance Note S5.06 for 'The Recovery and Disposal of Hazardous and Non Hazardous Waste' in 2004, two years before the adoption of the initial EU Waste Treatments BREF in 2006, which it broadly mirrored. In May 2013 guidance S5.06 was updated to accommodate changes following the introduction of the IED and again reflected the EU changes at the time. It also clarified, at the time, that guidance S5.07 was the main guidance for the treatment and transfer of hazardous waste as part of an addendum to the guidance.

Operators of waste activities are required to comply with guidance S5.06, guidance S5.07 and the Waste Treatments BREF for defining Best Available Technique and the associated emissions levels.