Statutory guidance

SR2008 No 24: standard rules for transfer of healthcare waste

Updated 18 January 2022

Applies to England

The Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016 – Chapter 4 Standard rules

Introductory note

This introductory note is a non-technical summary and does not form a part of these standard rules. Operators will need to check all of the rules in detail to ensure they can comply with them at all times. Any standard permit issued for these rules by the Environment Agency will:

• name a specific operator who can use the permit
• include a site plan showing where the facility is and its extent
• require the operator to comply with these rules

These rules allow a named operator to store and repackage healthcare waste, photographic and chemical wastes from healthcare premises, and similar municipal wastes at a specified location. No other waste types or storage locations are allowed. No treatment is allowed.

No more than 5,000 tonnes of waste can be accepted at the facility in a year.

Offensive waste types can be stored for up to 7 days if outside, or for up to 14 days if stored in a building.

Infectious waste and refrigerated anatomical waste can be stored for up to 14 days.

Unrefrigerated anatomical waste can be stored for up to 24 hours, or up to 72 hours if over a weekend.

Cytotoxic and cytostatic drugs, other medicines or drugs, dental amalgam, other chemicals or other wastes can be stored for up to 6 months.

The site shall be a minimum distance from certain types of sensitive sites. It cannot be within:

• 200 metres of a European site, Ramsar, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ)
• a groundwater source protection zone 1 or if a source protection zone has not been defined then within 50 metres of any well, spring or borehole used for the supply of water for human consumption (including private water supplies)

There will be no point source emissions to water, air or land, except:

(a) liquids may be discharged into a sewer subject to a consent issued by the local sewerage undertaker

(b) liquids may be taken off-site in a tanker for disposal or recovery

(c) clean (uncontaminated) surface water from roofs, or from areas of the site that are not being used in connection with storing or handling waste, may be discharged directly to surface waters, or to groundwater by seepage through the soil by a soakaway

End of introductory note

Rules

1. Management

1.1 General management

1.1.1 The operator shall manage and operate the following activities:

(a) in accordance with a written management system that identifies and minimises risks of pollution, so far as is reasonably practicable, including those risks arising from operations, maintenance, accidents, incidents, non-conformances, closure and those drawn to the attention of the operator as a result of complaints

(b) using sufficient competent persons and resources

1.1.2 Records demonstrating compliance with rule 1.1.1 shall be maintained.

1.1.3 Any person having duties that are or may be affected by the matters set out in these standard rules shall have convenient access to a copy of the permit.

1.1.4 The operator shall comply with the requirements of an approved competence scheme.

1.2 Avoidance, recovery and disposal of wastes produced by the activities

1.2.1 The operator shall take appropriate measures to ensure all of the following, that:

(a) the waste hierarchy referred to in Article 4 of the Waste Framework Directive is applied to the generation of waste by the activities

(b) any waste generated by the activities is treated in accordance with the waste hierarchy referred to in Article 4 of the Waste Framework Directive

(c) where disposal is necessary, this is undertaken in a manner which minimises its impact on the environment

1.2.2 The operator shall review and record at least every 4 years whether changes to those measures should be made and take any further appropriate measures identified by a review.

2. Operations

2.1 Permitted activities

2.1.1 The operator is only authorised to carry out activities with the following descriptions:

(a) R13: storage of waste pending any of the operations numbered R1 to R12 (excluding temporary storage, pending collection, on the site where the waste is produced)

(b) D15: storage pending any of the operations numbered D1 to D14 (excluding temporary storage, pending collection, on the site where the waste is produced)

(c) R12: repackaging of wastes for submission to any of the operations numbered R1 to R11

(d) D14: repackaging prior to submission to any of the operations numbered D1 to D13

2.1.2 The total quantity of waste accepted at the site shall be less than 5,000 tonnes each year.

2.1.3 Hazardous waste shall not be mixed, either with a different category of hazardous waste or with other waste, substances or materials.

2.1.4 There shall be no compaction or compression of wastes by mechanical or manual means.

2.1.5 The activities for storage are limited as follows:

(a) the maximum quantity of hazardous waste stored at any one time shall not exceed 10 tonnes

(b) the maximum quantity of non-hazardous waste stored at any one time shall not exceed 20 tonnes

2.1.6 The activities for repackaging are limited as follows:

(a) the maximum quantity of hazardous waste repackaged shall not exceed 10 tonnes each day

(b) waste shall not be transferred, removed or separated from its primary packaging (for example bags, bins, boxes and blister packs)

(c) repackaging is limited to:

(i) taking a waste package for example a bag, drum or box out of one cart or bulk container (for example, skip) and placing it into another cart or bulk container

(ii) taking a waste package from a cart or bulk container and placing it onto a pallet or vehicle

(iii) taking a waste package from a pallet and placing it into a cart or bulk container

2.1.7 The waste types permitted for repackaging into a bulk container are as follows.

Waste code	Waste types
18	Wastes from human or animal healthcare and/or related research (except kitchen and restaurant wastes not arising from immediate health care)
18 01	Wastes from natal care, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease in humans
18 01 04	Non-infectious offensive waste – human healthcare non-infectious gypsum wastes (for example, plaster casts and moulds)
18 02	Wastes from research, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease involving animals
18 02 03	Non-infectious anatomical waste, not chemically preserved non infectious offensive waste non-infectious gypsum wastes (for example, plaster casts and moulds
20	Municipal wastes (household waste and similar commercial, industrial and institutional wastes) including separately collected fractions
20 01	Separately collected fractions (except 15 01)
20 01 99	Non-infectious offensive waste – municipal, separately collected fractions not from healthcare or research-related sources

2.1.8 The waste types permitted for storage or repackaging other than into a bulk container are as follows.

Waste code	Waste types
09	Wastes from the photographic industry
09 01	Wastes from the photographic industry – healthcare premises only
09 01 01*	Water-based developer and activator solutions
09 01 02*	Water-based offset plate developer solutions
09 01 03*	Solvent based developer solutions
09 01 04*	Fixer solutions
09 01 05*	Bleach and bleach fixer solutions
09 01 07	Photographic film and paper containing silver or silver compounds
09 01 08	Photographic film and paper free of silver or silver compounds
15	Waste packaging, absorbents, wiping cloths, filter materials and protective clothing not otherwise specified
15 01	Packaging (including separately collected municipal packaging waste)
15 01 04	Lead foils from dental care
15 02	Absorbents, filter materials, wiping cloths and protective clothing – healthcare-related waste only
15 02 02*	Commercial, separately collected fractions of absorbents, wiping cloths and protective clothing contaminated by infectious substances
15 02 03	Commercial, separately collected fractions of absorbents, wiping cloths and protective clothing not contaminated by infectious substances
16	Wastes not otherwise specified in the list
16 05	Gases in pressure containers and discarded chemicals
16 05 04*	Aerosol canisters from the servicing of washrooms and similar hygiene facilities, containing hazardous substances
16 05 05	Aerosol canisters from the servicing of washrooms and similar hygiene facilities, other than those mentioned in 16 05 04
18	Wastes from human or animal healthcare and/or related research (except kitchen and restaurant wastes not arising from immediate health care)
18 01	Wastes from natal care, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease in humans
18 01 01	Non-infectious sharps, not contaminated with chemicals or medicines
18 01 02	Non-infectious anatomical waste, not chemically preserved
18 01 02 and 18 01 06* or 18 01 07	Non-infectious anatomical waste, chemically preserved
18 01 01 and 18 01 09	Non-infectious sharps from vaccines delivered in mass vaccination centres, in the community and in care homes
18 01 03*	Infectious waste, not contaminated with chemicals or medicines (may contain sharps) infectious anatomical waste, not chemically preserved infectious gypsum wastes (for example, plaster casts and moulds)
18 01 03* and 18 01 06* or 18 01 07	Infectious waste, contaminated with chemicals infectious anatomical waste, chemically preserved
18 01 03* and 18 01 09	Sharps from vaccinations delivered in hospitals or GP surgeries
18 01 03* and 18 01 08* or 20 01 31*	Infectious waste, contaminated with cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines – (may contain sharps)
18 01 03* and 18 01 09	Infectious waste, medicinally contaminated (not cytotoxic or cytostatic) – (may contain sharps)
18 01 04	Non-infectious offensive waste non-infectious gypsum wastes (for example, plaster casts and moulds)
18 01 06*	Chemicals consisting of or containing dangerous substances
18 01 07	Chemicals other than those mentioned in 18 01 06
18 01 08*	Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines
18 01 09	Other waste medicines, excluding cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines
18 01 10*	Amalgam waste from dental care
18 02	Wastes from research, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease involving animals
18 02 01	Non-infectious sharps, not contaminated with chemicals or medicines
18 02 02*	Infectious waste, not contaminated with chemicals or medicines (may contain sharps) infectious anatomical waste, not chemically preserved infectious gypsum wastes (for example, plaster casts and moulds)
18 02 02* and 18 02 05* or 18 02 06	Infectious waste, contaminated with chemicals infectious anatomical waste, chemically preserved
18 02 02* and 18 02 07* or 20 01 31	Infectious waste, contaminated with cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines (may contain sharps)
18 02 02* and 18 02 08	Infectious waste, medicinally contaminated (not cytotoxic or cytostatic) (may contain sharps)
18 02 03	Non-infectious anatomical waste, not chemically preserved non infectious offensive waste non-infectious gypsum wastes (for example, plaster casts and moulds)
18 02 03 and 18 02 05* or 18 02 06	Non-infectious anatomical waste, chemically preserved
18 02 05*	Chemicals consisting of or containing dangerous substances
18 02 06	Chemicals other than those mentioned in 18 02 05
18 02 07*	Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines
18 02 08	Other waste medicines, excluding cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines
20	Municipal wastes (household waste and similar commercial, industrial and institutional wastes) including separately collected fractions
20 01	Separately collected fractions (except 15 01)
20 01 31*	Cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines
20 01 32	Other waste medicines, excluding cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines – municipal, separately collected fractions not from healthcare or research-related sources
20 01 99	Infectious waste, not contaminated with chemicals or medicines – municipal, separately collected fractions, not from healthcare or research-related sources (may contain sharps) non infectious offensive waste – municipal, separately collected fractions not from healthcare or research-related sources non-infectious sharps, not contaminated with chemicals or medicines – not from healthcare or research-related sources

2.2 The site

2.2.1 The activities shall not extend beyond the site, being the land shown edged in green on the site plan attached to the permit.

2.2.2 The activities shall not be carried out within:

(a) 200 metres of a European site, Ramsar, SSSI or MCZ

(b) a groundwater source protection zone 1 or if a source protection zone has not been defined then within 50 metres of any well, spring or borehole used for the supply of water for human consumption (including private water supplies)

2.3 Waste acceptance

2.3.1 Waste shall only be accepted if all of the following apply:

(a) it conforms to the description in the transfer documentation supplied by the producer and holder

(b) appropriate measures for waste pre-acceptance and acceptance are used to determine the description of the waste

(c) it is packaged in a manner that meets the requirements for carriage unless agreed in writing by the Environment Agency for that individual consignment or batch of waste

2.4 Operating techniques

2.4.1 The activities shall, subject to the rules of this permit, be operated using the following techniques:

(a) infectious, pharmaceutical, chemical, anatomical and palletised wastes shall be stored and handled securely within designated areas of a secure building

(b) offensive wastes shall be stored and handled in a secure building or in secure, fully enclosed, rigid, waterproof and leak-proof bulk containers. Bulk containers used for storing offensive waste outside shall remain closed at all times, except when waste is being loaded or unloaded from them

(c) vehicles or vehicle trailers shall not be used to store wastes except where they are being received for offloading or where they are being prepared for imminent transfer (that is, they will be removed from site within 24 hours, or 72 hours if over a weekend)

(d) offensive waste shall only be stored on site for up to 14 days if stored in a building, but only for up to 7 days if stored outside

(e) infectious waste shall only be stored on site for up to 14 days

(f) anatomical waste and animal carcasses shall be stored in designated refrigerated units (operating below 5°C) unless they are stored on site for less than 24 hours (72 hours if over a weekend)

(g) refrigerated anatomical waste and animal carcasses shall only be stored on site for up to 14 days

(h) aerosol containers shall be securely stored under cover in well-ventilated containers, and within a caged storage area. Up to 3 cubic metres of aerosol containers shall only be stored for up to 3 months

(i) cytotoxic and cytostatic drugs, other medicines or drugs, dental amalgam, other chemicals or other wastes shall only be stored for up to 6 months

(j) waste that arrives in bags shall be immediately transferred on receipt into carts or other rigid, leak proof bulk containers for storage and handling around the site

(k) all bulk containers containing waste shall have a lid that is securely closed except where waste is being loaded into or unloaded from them

(l) chemical wastes, including photographic wastes, shall be securely packaged and stored

(m) where containers are stored on pallets, the containers shall be stable, stacked upright no more than 2.2 metres high, and secured with shrink-wrap. The containers shall not extend beyond (over-hang) the sides of the pallet. The shrink-wrap shall be clear or transparent so that waste types, damaged containers, leaks or spillages and incorrectly stacked containers can be identified

(n) all waste storage areas and containers or carts shall be inspected daily, and regularly cleaned and disinfected

(o) operational areas of the facility shall have:

(i) an impermeable surface

(ii) spill containment kerbs

(iii) sealed construction joints

(iv) a sealed drainage system

(p) bin, container or cart washing shall be located in a designated area designed to collect and contain all wash waters, including any spray

3. Emissions and monitoring

3.1 Emissions of substances not controlled by emission limits

3.1.1 Emissions of the site shall not cause pollution. The operator shall not be taken to have breached this condition if appropriate measures, including, but not limited to, those specified in any approved emissions management plan, have been taken to prevent or where that is not practicable, to minimise, those emissions.

3.1.2 The operator shall:

(a) if notified by the Environment Agency that the activities are giving rise to pollution, submit to the Environment Agency for approval within the period specified, an emissions management plan which identifies and minimises the risks of pollution from emissions of substances not controlled by emission limits

(b) implement the approved emissions management plan, from the date of approval, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Environment Agency

3.1.3 All liquids in containers, whose emission to water or land could cause pollution, shall be provided with secondary containment, unless the operator has used other appropriate measures to prevent or where that is not practicable, to minimise, leakage and spillage from the primary container.

3.2 Odour

3.2.1 Emissions from the activities shall be free from odour at levels likely to cause pollution outside the site, as perceived by an authorised officer of the Environment Agency, unless the operator has used appropriate measures, including, but not limited to, those specified in any approved odour management plan, to prevent or where that is not practicable to minimise the odour.

3.2.2 The operator shall:

(a) if notified by the Environment Agency that the activities are giving rise to pollution outside the site due to odour, submit to the Environment Agency for approval within the period specified, an odour management plan which identifies and minimises the risks of pollution from odour

(b) implement the approved odour management plan, from the date of approval, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Environment Agency

3.3 Noise and vibration

3.3.1 Emissions from the activities shall be free from noise and vibration at levels likely to cause pollution outside the site, as perceived by an authorised officer of the Environment Agency, unless the operator has used appropriate measures, including, but not limited to, those specified in any approved noise and vibration management plan to prevent or where that is not practicable to minimise the noise and vibration.

3.3.2 The operator shall:

(a) if notified by the Environment Agency that the activities are giving rise to pollution outside the site due to noise and vibration, submit to the Environment Agency for approval within the period specified, a noise and vibration management plan which identifies and minimises the risks of pollution from noise and vibration

(b) implement the approved noise and vibration management plan, from the date of approval, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Environment Agency

3.4 Pests

3.4.1 The activities shall not give rise to the presence of pests which are likely to cause pollution, hazard or annoyance outside the boundary of the site. The operator shall not be taken to have breached this condition if appropriate measures, including, but not limited to, those specified in any approved pests management plan, have been taken to prevent or where that is not practicable, to minimise the presence of pests on the site.

3.4.2 The operator shall:

(a) if notified by the Environment Agency, submit to the Environment Agency for approval within the period specified, a pests management plan which identifies and minimises risks of pollution, hazard or annoyance from pests

(b) implement the pests management plan, from the date of approval, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Environment Agency

3.5 Fire prevention

3.5.1 The operator shall take all appropriate measures to prevent fires on site and minimise the risk of pollution from them including, but not limited to, those specified in any approved fire prevention plan.

3.5.2 The operator shall:

(a) if notified by the Environment Agency that the activities are giving rise to a risk of fire, submit to the Environment Agency for approval within the period specified, a fire prevention plan which prevents fires and minimises the risk of pollution from fires

(b) implement the fire prevention plan, from the date of approval, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Environment Agency

4. Information

4.1 Records

4.1.1 All records required to be made by these standard rules shall:

(a) be legible

(b) be made as soon as reasonably practicable

(c) if amended, be amended in such a way that the original and any subsequent amendments remain legible, or are capable of retrieval

(d) be retained, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Environment Agency, for at least 6 years from the date when the records were made, or in the case of the following records until permit surrender:

(i) off-site environmental effects

(ii) matters which affect the condition of the land and groundwater

4.1.2 The operator shall maintain convenient access, in either electronic or hard copy, to the records, plans and management system required to be maintained by this permit.

4.2 Reporting and notifications

4.2.1 All reports and notifications required by these standard rules shall be made in writing, using the contact details supplied by the Environment Agency. Where reports and notifications shall be made immediately, they may be provided verbally.

4.2.2 Within one month of the end of each quarter, the operator shall submit to the Environment Agency using the form made available for the purpose, the information specified on the form relating to the site and the waste accepted and removed from it during the previous quarter.

4.2.3 In the event:

(a) that the operation of the activities gives rise to an incident or accident which significantly affects or may significantly affect the environment, the operator shall immediately do all of the following:

(i) inform the Environment Agency

(ii) take the measures necessary to limit the environmental consequences of such an incident or accident

(iii) take the measures necessary to prevent further possible incidents or accidents

(b) of a breach of any rule the operator shall immediately do both of the following:

(i) inform the Environment Agency

(ii) take the measures necessary to ensure that compliance is restored within the shortest possible time

(c) of a breach of permit condition which poses an immediate danger to human health or threatens to cause an immediate significant adverse effect on the environment, the operator shall immediately suspend the operation of the activities or the relevant part of it until compliance with the permit conditions has been restored

4.2.4 Written confirmation of actual or potential pollution incidents and breaches of rules shall be submitted to the Environment Agency within 24 hours.

4.2.5 Following the detection of an event listed in 4.2.1, the operator shall review and where necessary revise the management system, and implement any changes as necessary to minimise the risk of reoccurrence of the issue.

4.2.6 Where the Environment Agency has requested in writing that it shall be notified when the operator is to undertake monitoring and, or spot sampling (or both), the operator shall inform the Environment Agency when the relevant monitoring and, or spot sampling (or both) is to take place. The operator shall provide this information to the Environment Agency at least 14 days before the date the monitoring is to be undertaken.

4.2.7 The Environment Agency shall be notified within 14 days of the occurrence of the following matters, except where such disclosure is prohibited by Stock Exchange rules:

(a) Where the operator is a registered company, both of the following apply:

(i) any change in the operator’s trading name, registered name or registered office address

(ii) any steps taken with a view to the operator going into administration, entering into a company voluntary arrangement or being wound up

(b) Where the operator is a corporate body other than a registered company, both of the following apply:

(i) any change in the operator’s name or address

(ii) any steps taken with a view to the dissolution of the operator

(c) In any other case, all of the following apply:

(i) the death of any of the named operators (where the operator consists of more than one named individual)

(ii) any change in the operator’s name(s) or address(es)

(iii) any steps taken with a view to the operator, or any one of them, going into bankruptcy, entering into a composition or arrangement with creditors, or, in the case of them being in a partnership, dissolving the partnership

(iv) any closure of the site longer than 15 working days

4.3 Interpretation

In these standard rules the following expressions shall have these meanings:

‘accident’ means an accident that may result in pollution

‘authorised officer’ means any person authorised by the Environment Agency under section 108(1) of The Environment Act 1995 to exercise, in accordance with the terms of any such authorisation, any power specified in section 108(4) of that Act

‘building’ is a covered structure enclosed on all vertical sides that provides sheltered cover and contains emissions of, for example, noise, particulate matter, odour and litter

‘clinical’ waste means waste from a healthcare activity (including veterinary healthcare) that:

(a) contains viable micro-organisms or their toxins which are known or reliably believed to cause disease in humans or other living organisms

(b) contains or is contaminated with a medicine that contains a biologically active pharmaceutical agent

(c) is a sharp, or a body fluid or other biological material (including human and animal tissue) containing or contaminated with a hazardous substance

(d) waste of a similar nature from a non-healthcare activity

‘container’ is a receptacle for waste for example bags, bins, boxes, drums, IBCs and blister packs. Wastes may be packaged in more than one receptacle for example a bag in a box

‘cytotoxic and cytostatic medicines’ are medicinal products that possess one or more of the hazardous properties acutely toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction

‘D’ means a disposal operation provided for in Annex I to Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on Waste

‘disposal’ means any of the operations provided for in Annex I to Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste

‘emissions of substances not controlled by emission limits’ means emissions of substances to air, water or land from the activities, either from the emission points specified in these standard rules or from other localised or diffuse sources, which are not controlled by an emission or background concentration limits

‘emissions to land’ includes emissions to groundwater

‘European site means a European site within the meaning of Regulation 8 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, and refers to a candidate or Special Area of Conservation and proposed or Special Protection Area in England and Wales

‘groundwater’ means all water, which is below the surface of the ground in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the ground or subsoil

‘hazardous substance’ is a substance classified as hazardous as a consequence of fulfilling the criteria laid down in parts 2 to 5 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008

‘hazardous waste’ has the meaning given in the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 (as amended)

‘healthcare waste’ means waste produced during human or animal healthcare, or related research activities. It covers both clinical and offensive waste. Wastes produced by healthcare in the community, and similar types of waste produced by non-healthcare activities are included, for example:

• cosmetic body piercing and body art
• non-medicinal procedures in the hair and beauty sector
• substance abuse
• crime scene clean-up

‘impermeable surface’ means a surface or pavement constructed and maintained to a standard sufficient to prevent the transmission of liquids beyond the pavement surface, and should be read in conjunction with the term ‘sealed drainage system’

‘List of Wastes’ means the list of wastes established by Commission Decision 2000/532/EC replacing Decision 94/3/EC establishing a list of wastes pursuant to Article 1(a) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and Council Decision 94/904/EC establishing a list of hazardous waste pursuant to Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste

‘MCZ’ means Marine Conservation Zone, designated under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

‘offensive waste’ is waste that:

(a) is not clinical waste

(b) contains body fluids, secretions or excretions

(c) falls within waste codes 18 01 04, 18 02 03 or 20 01 99

‘pests’ means birds, vermin and insects

‘pollution’ means emissions as a result of human activity which may do one or more of the following:

(a) be harmful to human health or the quality of the environment

(b) cause offence to a human sense

(c) result in damage to material property, or

(d) impair or interfere with amenities and other legitimate uses of the environment

‘quarter’ means a calendar year quarter commencing on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October

‘R’ means a recovery operation provided for in Annex II to Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on Waste

‘recovery’ means any of the operations provided for in Annex II to Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on Waste

‘repackaging’ is the removal of waste from one container to another. Examples of repackaging include:

(a) taking a waste package (for example a bag, drum or box) out of one cart or bulk container (for example a skip) and placing it into another cart or bulk container for example, skip

(b) taking a waste package from a cart or bulk container for example, skip and placing it onto a pallet or vehicle

(c) taking a waste package from a pallet and placing it into a cart or bulk container for example, skip

(d) transferring, removing or separating waste from its primary packaging into another container

In this permit repackaging is limited only to (a), (b) and (c). You shall not remove, transfer or separate waste from its primary packaging (for example bags, bins, boxes and blister packs)

‘requirements for carriage’ means the requirements of the current Carriage Regulations, which implement the ADR

‘sealed drainage system’ in relation to an impermeable surface means a drainage system with impermeable components which does not leak and which will ensure that:

(a) no liquid will run off the surface otherwise than via the system

(b) except where they may lawfully be discharged to foul sewer, all liquids entering the system are collected in a sealed sump

‘secure’ means that all reasonable precautions are taken to ensure that the waste cannot escape and that members of the public are unable to gain access to the waste

‘SSSI’ means Site of Special Scientific Interest within the meaning of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000)

‘sharps’ means items that could cause cuts or puncture wounds. They include needles, hypodermic needles, scalpels and other blades, knives, infusion sets, saws, broken glass, and nails

‘waste code’ means the six digit code referable to a type of waste in accordance with the List of Wastes and in relation to hazardous waste, includes the asterisk

‘year’ means calendar year ending 31 December

End of standard rules

Record of changes

Version 1.0 – April 2008

Published for launch of EPR 2008.

Version 2.0 – April 2009

The changes were as follows:

• removal of tonnage bands
• x-ray photochemical wastes added
• minor administrative changes

Version 3.0 – April 2010

Minor administrative changes.

Version 4.0 – June 2012

Addition to site criteria.

Version 5.0 – December 2015

Added text to clarify the status of the new and amended rules sets following consultation No 12 and re-instated the existing rules sets that continue to apply until 1 March 2016.

Version 6.0 – 3 April 2019

Updated the interpretation section 4.4 of the standard rule with a revised definition for the term ‘European Site.’

Version 7.0 – 23 November 2021

Updated the standard rules permit following publication of Healthcare Waste: appropriate measures for permitted facilities guidance.