Recycling and Waste Management

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects
Recycling can prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of
fresh raw materials, thereby reducing: energy usage, air pollution (from incineration), and water
pollution (from landfilling)

Waste is unwanted or unusable material. Waste is any substance

which is discarded after primary use, or is worthless, defective and
of no use.

Environment is everything that is around us. It can be living or non-

living things. It includes physical, chemical and other natural forces.
 Recycling and Waste Management
Every workplace produces waste.
Construction, commercial and industrial waste accounted for almost 75% of the 200 million
tonnes of waste generated in the UK. Its management and control is crucial, because waste
affects the environment and costs organisations money.

Waste and the law

Firstly, it is vital to know what waste is. Under the Environmental

Protection Act 1990, the definition of waste is “any scrap material,
effluent or unwanted surplus substance”, and “any substance or
article which requires to be disposed of as being broken, worn out,
contaminated or otherwise spoiled”.
Recycling and Waste Management
The Environmental Protection (Duty of
Care) Regulations 1991

The Duty of Care requires you as the

producer of waste to take all reasonable
measures to ensure that waste leaving
your site is dealt with correctly.

If you have not taken such steps, or

cannot prove that you have taken such
steps, you may be found guilty of an
offence if your waste is illegally tipped or
not otherwise dealt with in accordance
with the conditions of a waste
management site license/permit.
 Recycling and Waste Management
The Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991
Transfer Notes
A Transfer Note must be completed by both the transferor and transferee of the waste and
should contain the following information:
• Identification of the waste
• Quantity of waste
• Whether the waste is loose or in a container and, if applicable, the kind of container
• Time and place of transfer
• Name and address of the transferor and transferee
• Whether the transferor is the producer or importer of the waste
• If relevant, which authorised transport purpose applies
• Which categories describe the transferor and transferee i.e. producer, waste carrier, waste
collection authority, etc.
Recycling and Waste Management
Group task,
discuss the following:
• What are the requirements of
the Duty of Care Regulations
(1991) and what should be on
a transfer note?
• How would you report
problems or safety issues
that could cause unplanned
waste Identify two pieces of
environmental legislation
relating to waste?
 Recycling and Waste Management
How should waste be dealt with?

The waste hierarchy was set out in the Waste Framework Directive2008, a European Union Directive.
This ranks methods of managing and controlling it. In order of preference, these are:

• Prevention
• Preparation for reuse
• Recycling
• Other recovery
• Disposal
 Recycling and Waste Management
Prevention involves using less material, keeping a product for a longer duration, reusing
materials, and using materials that are less hazardous to the environment.

Preparing for reuse involves checking, cleaning and repairing objects so that they avoid
becoming waste.

Recycling it will turn it into a new product.

Other Recovery may involve, for example, incineration (with energy

recovery).

Disposal is the least preferred option, because the waste will end up
as landfill, or be incinerated without any energy being recovered.
 Recycling and Waste Management
Waste streams may be categorised as follows:

• General refuse
• Paper
• Production scrap
• Construction waste
• Special wastes
 Recycling and Waste Management
General refuse includes waste such as litter bin contents.

Paper is an important waste stream in any organisation. Since January 2015, it has been a legal
requirement, under the Waste Regulations, to separate paper (as well as plastic, metal and glass) from
other waste.

Production scrap work that usually involves plastic or metal already have a collection arrangement in
place for the scrap that they produce. However, there is always scope for improvement in production
methods to reduce the amount of scrap that is generated.
 Recycling and Waste Management
Construction waste it should be the contractor’s responsibility to get rid of any waste they generate.
However, they should look into the re-use of any items, such as doors or floorboards, elsewhere.

Special wastes include substances that might ordinarily be discarded in general waste, but ought to be
disposed of with greater care. Separate containers are necessary for special wastes, and, in the interests
of the environment and cost, it is important not to allow general waste to contaminate this stream.
Different Types of Waste
• Inert waste is waste which is neither chemically nor biologically
reactive and will not decompose or only very slowly. Examples of
this are sand and concrete. This has particular relevance to landfills
as inert waste typically requires lower disposal fees than
biodegradable waste or hazardous waste .
• Most forms of concrete, brick, glass, soil, clay and gravel are
classified as inactive. Active waste covers all other forms of waste
such as wood, ductwork, piping and plastics. Inevitably there will be
some mixing of waste such as inert bricks and concrete mixed with
small amounts of wood or mineral dust packaged in polythene
bags.
• Waste is considered 'hazardous' under environmental legislation
when it contains substances or has properties that might make it
harmful to human health or the environment. This does not
necessarily mean it is an immediate risk to human health, although
some waste can be.
 Recycling and Waste Management
Causes of Environmental Pollution
Industries: Industries have been polluting our environment especially since the beginning of the
industrial revolution, notably due to the increasing use of fossil fuels.
In the 19th century and for a significant part of the 20th century, coal has been use to make
machines work faster, replacing human force.

Though pollution by industries mainly causes air

pollution, soil and water contamination can also occur.
This is particularly the case for power-generating
industries, such as plants producing electricity (May they
be a dam, a nuclear reactor or some other type of plant).
 Recycling and Waste Management
Causes of Environmental Pollution
Transportation: Pollution caused by transport can mainly be attributed to fossil fuels. Indeed, humans
went from horse carriages to cars, trains (which, before electricity, used to be propelled by coal), and
airplanes. As the traffic is increasing every day, pollution follows that evolution.

Agricultural Activities: Agriculture is mainly responsible for the contamination of water and soil.
This is caused by the increased use of pesticides and
almost all pesticides are made from chemical substances
and are meant to keep diseases and threatening animals
away from the crops.
 Recycling and Waste Management
Causes of Environmental Pollution

Trading Activities: Trading activities including the production and exchange of goods and services.
Concerning goods, pollution can be caused by packaging (which often involves the use of plastic, which is
made from fossil fuels) or transport, mainly.
Residences: Finally, residential areas provide their fair share of pollution as well. First, to be able to build
homes, natural environment has to be destroyed in one way or another. Wildlife and plants are driven
away and replaced by human constructions.
As it requires the work of industries, construction itself is also a source of contamination of the
environment. Then, when people settle in, they will produce waste every day, including a part that
cannot be processed by the environment without harm yet.
Recycling and Waste Management
Effects of Environmental Pollution

• Effects on Humans: The effects of

environmental pollution on humans
are mainly physical but can also turn
into neuro-affections in the long
term.

• The best-known troubles to us are

respiratory, in the form of allergies,
asthma, irritation of the eyes and
nasal passages, or other forms of
respiratory infections
• Environmental pollution has been
proven to be a major factor in the
development of cancer
 Recycling and Waste Management
Effects of Environmental Pollution
Effects on Animals: Environmental pollution mainly affects animal by causing harm to their
living environment, making it toxic for them to live in.

Acid rains can change the composition of rivers and seas, making them toxic for fishes, an
important quantity of ozone in the lower parts of the atmosphere can cause lung problems to all
animals.
Nitrogen and phosphates in water will cause overgrowth of toxic algae, preventing other forms of
life to follow their normal course.

Eventually, soil pollution will cause harm and sometimes even the destruction of
microorganisms, which can have the dramatic effect of killing the first layers of the primary food
chain.
 Recycling and Waste Management
Effects of Environmental Pollution
Effects on Plants: As for animals, plants, and especially trees, can be destroyed by acid rains
(and this will also have a negative effect on animals as well, as their natural environment will be
modified), ozone in the lower atmosphere block the plant respiration, and harmful pollutants can
be absorbed from the water or soil.

Effects on the Ecosystem: In short, environmental pollution, almost exclusively created by

human activities, has a negative effect on the ecosystem, destroying crucial layers of it and
causing an even more negative effect on the upper layers.
COSHH
Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 Provides guidance on:

• The safe use and handling

• Identification and Storage

• Disposal

• Environmental control of all substances hazardous to health

COSHH

HAZARDOUS TO THE GASSES UNDER

TOXIC FLAMMABLE PRESSURE
ENVIRONMENT

LONG TERM
CORROSIVE EXPLOSIVE Oxidising HEALTH HAZARD
 Typical Hazards and Risks
Construction sites are dangerous places – full of hazards and risks

Wastes – rubbish from construction work

• toxic substances
• vermin
• fire

Work activities – hazards caused by our normal work

• dust, which can cause breathings problems
• debris, which can cause eye injuries
• falling from height
• objects falling from a height
 Hazard and risk
Hazard and Risk Item

Splinters and dust are created when this natural product is cut which can cause breathing problems and minor injuries.

This product has a glue in it which when the product is cut can cause breathing problems as the dust gets in to the
lungs.

Some types of this product contain solvents which can cause an irritation if inhaled or swallowed.

This element is present in old paint, flashings and old water pipes. If absorbed into the body it can cause brain damage.
Some people may have played with toys made of this when younger.

This material has been banned from use. It can cause lung and breathing problems as the fine fibres become stuck in
lung tissue.

MEDIUM DENSITY
SAWN TIMBER
FIBRE BOARD(MDF)
LIME PAINTS
SOLDERS
ASBESTOS LEAD
Workbook Q19 Page 46

FIXINGS
Who has to Provide Welfare
Facilities?
It is your employers responsibility to provide clean welfare facilities such as toilets and a separate
area for rest and lunch and there should;
• Clean toilets should be in working order. They do not need to be non gender specific
• Washbasins with hot and cold (or warm) running water
• Soap and towels
• Sinks large enough to wash face, hands and forearms
• Storage - somewhere to change, dry and store clothing
• Drinking water and cups provided
• A rest area to sit, make hot drinks and eat food
• Keep your welfare facilities warm and well ventilated, with lighting if necessary
• Shaded area away from sunlight
Weil’s Disease and Leptospirosis
What is it?
• A bacterial and sometimes
fatal infection that is
transmitted usually through
rats. Although there is a
second variant transmitted via
cattle called The Hardjo form
of leptospirosis

From 100 infections a year in the UK,

an average of 3 are fatal
Weil’s Disease
Prevention
• Manage housekeeping to minimise rat infestation
• Do not touch live or dead, with unprotected hands
• Wash cuts and grazes immediately with soap and running water and cover all cuts and
broken skin with waterproof plasters before and during work
• Wear protective clothing
• Wash your hands after handling any animal, or any contaminated clothing or other materials
and always before eating, drinking or smoking

Reporting - Whilst Weil’s Disease isn’t reportable to HSE, Leptospirosis is under RIDDOR
• Report any illness to your doctor and ensure they know about your work
• Leptospirosis is much less severe if it is treated promptly
• If your doctor decides you have leptospirosis tell your employer, who must then report it
online at www.hse.gov.uk/riddor

• If you are self-employed you must report it yourself

Safety Signs and Information

A ‘Tool Box Talk’ is a short briefing at the

beginning of the day to highlight H&S issues
or events that could impact onto H&S.

Site Manager
David Smith
01234 567891

Basic Site Safety Notice

 CSCS
PRACTICE
Learning Outcomes
Health and Safety
• Understand the responsibilities for health and safety at work
• Understand the causes of accidents at work
• Be able to identify and select personal protective equipment (PPE) required to
complete task in the workplace
• Know the importance of working safely at height in the workplace
• Know the principles of risk assessment and their importance to health and safety
at work
• Understand causes of fire and when fire extinguishers should be used
• Know the potential risks to health of substances in the working environment
Waste and Recycling
• Understand how waste impacts on the environment
• Understand the legal requirements related to waste management
• Be able to report and address potential safety issues in the workplace.
• Be able to identify, sort and prepare recyclable materials
• Understand how to minimise the environmental impact of recycling operations

Now complete your workbook and submit for assessment