4. Waste storage and handling appropriate measures

The additional appropriate measures for waste storage, segregation and handling at regulated facilities with an environmental permit for the treatment or transfer of WTEE.

You must also follow the guidance for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

1. You must store and handle WTEE in a way that protects and prevents damage to cooling circuits, compressors, the appliance casing and foam insulation. WTEE must not be tipped.

2. You must store and handle WTEE that has not been degassed whole. You must not store or handle it in a way that could damage the cooling circuit, for example, by storing or resting it horizontally on its back or in a way that could cause the cooling circuits to interlink or entangle.

3. You must make sure that sufficient space is maintained between WTEE, and between it and other structures (for example, storage bay walls), This is so:

  • it can be picked up and handled safely and easily
  • it minimises the need to handle or move it, or WTEE next to it

4. Any mechanical equipment you use to handle WTEE (for example, forklifts and their associated attachments) must be designed and used in a way that makes sure they do not damage the cooling circuit, appliance casing or insulation foam of the equipment. You must control and minimise any force or pressure applied to WTEE during handling whilst ensuring it is done safely (for example, that it will not slip or fall).

5. Following visual inspection (during initial waste acceptance or routine site inspection), if WTEE is found to be damaged to the extent that insulation foam can be seen exposed or it is assessed as posing a significant risk of releasing refrigerant gas or oil, you must:

  • move it to a well ventilated area, away from potential sources of ignition and other combustible wastes
  • store it under weatherproof covering
  • prioritise its treatment or transfer, where it is safe and possible to do so

Before treatment or transfer, if safe and practicable to do so, you may be able to fix leaks from the cooling circuit or compressor of the WTEE by applying an epoxy resin or similar material.

6. You must not store WTEE for longer than 3 months before treatment or off-site transfer. You should remove all other wastes from your site within a maximum of 6 months from receipt.

7. You must store WTEE and any combustible waste materials resulting from the treatment of WTEE (for example, plastic, foam and waste packaging) in line with an approved fire prevention plan. This includes:

  • maintaining adequate fire breaks between waste storage areas
  • making sure there is safe access in and around storage areas and storage containers and vessels to allow inspection

8. You must store WTEE in a safe and stable manner on level ground and on an impermeable surface provided with sealed drainage. You must not stack or store equipment more than 3.6m high.

9. Where WTEE has been dismantled into panels (for example, cold room panels or large commercial refrigeration units), you must make sure you store and handle them in a way that prevents damage to the foam (for example, fragmentation or compaction). If you stack panels, you must do this in a way that makes sure the stack is stable and the panels are not damaged, particularly those at the base of the stack. You must protect dismantled foam panels from the weather (wind and rain) and sources of heat – for example, by storing them in a dedicated area of a roofed building or under weatherproof covering.

10. You must store compressors removed from equipment in containers or heavy-duty bags that are secure, weatherproof and leak-proof, and on an impermeable surface with sealed drainage. This is to contain any spills from the small residual quantities of oil they may contain and to minimise handling. The containers or bags must be:

  • closed or kept under cover to prevent the accumulation and contamination of rainwater
  • kept away from sources of heat (for example, direct sunlight)

11. You must collect and store blowing agents, refrigerants, and compressor oil that has not been degassed in appropriate gas-tight containers that are sealed. Recovered blowing agents and refrigerants sent for off-site destruction should be collected and stored in pressurised collection vessels suitable for road transportation.

12. You must store degassed oil, recovered from compressors and cooling circuits, in above-ground storage tanks or sealed containers. These must:

  • have appropriate secondary containment systems
  • be located on an area of impermeable surfacing provided with sealed drainage

13. If you treat different types of WTEE in separate batches or by using different plant or processes (for example, based upon refrigerant or blowing agent type), you must sort them by type and store them separately before treatment.

If you are not permitted to treat certain types of WTEE and only accept them for storage and transfer (for example, you are not permitted to treat WTEE containing volatile fluorocarbon (VFC) blowing agents through your stage 2 process, or you are unable to degas ammonia refrigerants) then you must identify and store these wastes separately from those that you are permitted to treat (for example, based upon blowing agent or refrigerant type).

You must label the areas of a site where you store different types of WTEE (using signs or markings), so it is clear what WTEE is to be stored where.

14. You must clearly mark and label storage areas, containers and storage vessels – for example, with the relevant LoW (List of Waste) or EWC (European Waste Catalogue) codes and any hazardous properties – and store hazardous wastes in accordance with their hazardous properties.

15. You must store and manage any food waste, biodegradable waste, or waste with potential for releasing fugitive emissions (including dust or odour) in a way that prevents and minimises such emissions. For example, by storing them within a building or closed container and prioritising them for treatment or transfer.

16. You must regularly inspect storage containers, vessels and drums and keep them in sound condition.

17. You must conform to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) safety standards where relevant, specifically:

18. You must make sure that plant and equipment in which compressed gas (including, for example, nitrogen gas) is stored or used, are designed, operated and maintained in line with relevant industry standards and guidance. You can find further information on the British Compressed Gases Association and HSE websites.