Waste Protocols Project |
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The Waste Protocols Project is a joint Environment Agency and WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) initiative in collaboration with industry, funded by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) as a business resource efficiency activity.
Objectives
The project seeks to achieve the following outcomes:
- to produce a Quality Protocol identifying the point at which waste, having been fully recovered, may be regarded as a non-waste product that can be either reused by business or industry, or supplied into other markets, enabling them to be used without the need for waste management controls; and/or
- to produce a statement that confirms to the business community what waste management controls they must comply with.
What is a Quality Protocol?
A quality protocol gives guidance on how to recover waste, remove it from the regulatory regime and unnecessary regulations.
Progress
a) The Quality Protocol for the production and use of quality compost from source-segregated biodegradable waste was launched in May 2006. This is applicable in England and Wales. For more information, please visit Compost Quality Protocol.
b) The Quality Protocol for the production of processed cullet from waste flat glass was published in January 2009. For more information, please go to the Flat Glass Quality Protocol pages.
c) In August 2007, the Environment Agency reviewed the legal classification of steel making by-product Blast Furnace Slag from waste to by-product, with clarification from the EU, and through consultation with industry.
d) The Environment Agency confirmed in October 2007 that virgin timber was to be de-regulated, clean non-virgin timber remained regulated whilst treated timber remains a waste.
e) A technical report and regulatory position statement for contaminated soils have been published on the Environment Agency website.
f) Public consultations have been completed for:
- Anaerobic Digestate
- Tyre-derived rubber materials
- Non-packaging Plastics
- Waste Vegetable Oil
- Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA)
- Gypsum from Waste Plasterboard
- Processed Fuel Oil (PFO)
- Paper Sludge Ash (PSA)
These materials either are currently undergoing a post consultation review phase or have been notified to the European Commission's Technical Standards Directive (TSD) committee for consultation. Consultations for all remaining materials under the project will be hosted on the Dialogue by Design website.
Please go to the Environment Agency for more information on the Waste Protocols Project.
