Hazardous waste
In this section you can access advice on hazardous waste, including the definition of hazardous waste, duty of care requirements, how to register a premises and record keeping obligations
Background
Hazardous wastes are those that are harmful to people, the environment or animals, either immediately or over an extended period of time, including those that are toxic, carcinogenic, infectious or ecotoxic.
What the BVA has done
We have consulted extensively to produce the BVA Good practice guide to handling veterinary waste.
The aim of the guide is to assist the veterinary profession to comply with waste regulations in England and Wales. This web advice complements the BVA Good practice guide to handling veterinary waste poster and summary advice.
The BVA expects this advice to develop over time and encourages members to discuss this information with their waste contractor.
Registering as a hazardous waste producer
In England and Wales, if your practice produces more than 500 kg of hazardous waste per year you must register with the Environment Agency as a hazardous waste producer.
In Scotland you do not have to register with the Environment Agency, even if you export your waste to England or Wales.
In Northern Ireland you do not have to register but there is a system of pre-notification. You are required to notify the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) in advance of moving hazardous waste by completing a consignment note. Consignment notes and more information on hazardous waste in Northern Ireland are available from the NIEA.
Pre-acceptance audits
In 2009 the Environment Agency in England and Wales introduced a requirement for producers of healthcare wastes who send their waste to alternative treatment plants, which includes veterinary practices, to conduct a pre-acceptance audit on a regular basis.
Duty of Care
The legal responsibility for waste does not end when waste is collected. If an omission by the waste producer (veterinary practice) contributes to mismanagement of the waste by another party, then the producer may be held responsible. It is therefore essential that members discharge their ‘Duty of Care’.
Exemption from carriage of dangerous goods legislation
A vet is exempt from the carriage of dangerous goods regulations as long as the hazardous waste is
- a small quantity
- packaged appropriately, ie in rigid leak proof packages
- being transported from a client’s premises to the practice
- not being transported between practices, eg from a satellite to a main practice
More information
Further information about hazardous waste is available from the Environment Agency, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.