The Hazardous Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

PART 1 GENERAL

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Hazardous Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 and shall come into operation on 16th July 2005.

(2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(1) shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

General interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“the 1997 Order” means the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997;

“asbestos waste” means waste which contains or is contaminated by asbestos and “domestic asbestos waste” refers to such waste arising from domestic premises;

“carrier”, in relation to a consignment of hazardous waste, means a person who takes one or more of the following actions, namely, collects the consignment of hazardous waste from the premises at which it was produced or is being held, delivers it to the consignee, or transports it in the course of any leg of its transfer from those premises to the consignee;

“carrier’s round”, in relation to consignments of hazardous waste, means a journey made by a carrier during which he collects more than one consignment of hazardous waste and transports all consignments collected to the same consignee who is specified in the consignment note;

“collection” means the gathering, sorting or mixing of waste or any one or more of those operations, for the purpose of transport and “collected” and other cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

“consignee”, in relation to any consignment of hazardous waste, means the person to whom that waste is or is to be delivered for recovery or disposal;

“consignment note”, in relation to a consignment of hazardous waste, means the identification form, as set out in Schedule 4, which is required to accompany the hazardous waste when it is transferred pursuant to Article 5(3)(a) of the Hazardous Waste Directive containing the details required by these Regulations to be shown in respect of that consignment;

“consignor”, in relation to a consignment of hazardous waste, means the person who causes that waste to be removed from the premises at which it was produced or is being held;

“conveyance” includes a vehicle designed to carry goods by road or rail and a vessel designed to carry goods by water;

“disposal” means any of the operations provided for in Annex IIA of the Waste Directive and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly(2);

“Department” means Department of the Environment;

“emergency or grave danger” is a present or threatened situation arising from a substance or object which is, or which there are reasonable grounds to believe is, hazardous waste, and the situation constitutes a threat to the population or the environment in any place;

“European Waste Catalogue” means the list of wastes set out in the Annex to Commission Decision 2000/532/EC, as for the time being amended(3);

“harbour area” has the same meaning as in the Dangerous Substances in Harbour Areas Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991(4);

“hazardous waste” has the meaning given to hazardous waste by regulation 6 and any reference to hazardous waste shall be taken to include special waste imported from Scotland within the meaning of the Special Waste Regulations 1996(5) as amended by the Special Waste Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004(6);

“the Hazardous Waste Directive” means Council Directive 91/689/EEC(7) of 31st December 1991 on hazardous waste, as amended by Council Directive 94/31/EC(8);

“holder” means the producer of waste or the person who is or who was, prior to consignment or spillage of the waste, in possession of it, not being the carrier of the waste;

“the List Decision”, “the List of Wastes Regulations” and “the List of Wastes” have the meanings given by regulation 5 and the expressions “listed as a waste”, “listed as a hazardous waste” and “not listed as hazardous” are construed in accordance with that regulation;

“mixing” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 18;

“non-hazardous waste” and cognate expressions have the meaning given by regulation 7;

“permit” means a permit, licence, or authorisation issued pursuant to The Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002(9) or The Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997(10) or a registered exemption from a waste management licence in accordance with the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003(11);

“premises” includes any ship, container, aircraft or vehicle and any other means of transport, any land, with or without buildings, construction or installation and any place situated on a road or on or in water, and vehicle includes any means of transport;

“producer” means any person whose activities produce waste (“original producer”) and/or any person who carries out pre-processing, mixing or other operations resulting in a change in the nature or composition of this waste;

“recovery” means any of the operations provided for in Annex IIB of the Waste Directive and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly(12);

“relevant code” in relation to a consignment note or carrier’s schedule, means the code assigned in accordance with regulation 22 to the consignment of hazardous waste to which the consignment note or carrier’s schedule relates or, where the consignment is one in a carrier’s round, to the consignments in that round;

“schedule of carriers”, in relation to a consignment of hazardous waste, means the schedule required to be completed pursuant to regulations 26;

“separation” means separation of a waste from any other waste, substance or material;

“ship” means a vessel of any type whatsoever operating in the marine environment including submersible craft, floating craft and any structure which is a fixed or floating platform; and

“six digit 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;

“United Kingdom ship” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995(13);

“waste” has the meaning given in regulation 3;

“Waste Directive” has the meaning given in regulation 3;

(2) A reference to the holder of waste—

(a) includes—

(i) where the waste has been transported, a reference to the person who, immediately prior to the consigning of the waste, was the holder;

(ii) where any waste has been spilled, a reference to the person who was, prior to any spill, in possession of the waste;

(b) does not include a reference to the carrier; and

(c) where regulations 31 (duty of consignee not accepting delivery) and 32 (further consignment note for rejected consignment) apply, does not include a reference to the consignee who has rejected the load.

(3) Other words and expressions used in these Regulations and which are used in the Waste Directive or the Hazardous Waste Directive have the same meaning as in the Waste Directive or the Hazardous Waste Directive, as the case may be.

The Waste Directive and the meaning of waste

3.—(1) For the purposes of these Regulations—

(a) “the Waste Directive” means Council Directive 75/442/EEC(14) on waste as amended by—

(i) Council Directives 91/156/EEC(15) and 91/692/EEC(16); and

(ii) Commission Decision 96/350/EC(17); and

(b) “waste” means anything that—

(i) is waste(18) for the purposes of the Waste Directive; and

(ii) subject to regulation 8, is not excluded from the scope of that Directive by Article 2 of that Directive.

(2) In these Regulations, a reference to the Waste Directive conditions is a reference to the conditions laid down in Article 4 of that Directive, that is to say, to ensure that that waste is recovered or disposed of without endangering human health and without using processes or methods which could harm the environment and in particular—

(a) without risk to water, air, soil and plants and animals;

(b) without causing a nuisance through noise or odours; and

(c) without adversely affecting the countryside or places of special interest.

(3) Except as provided for in Regulation 13 (domestic asbestos waste) and 14 (separately collected domestic fractions) these regulations do not apply to hazardous waste that is domestic waste.

The Hazardous Waste Directive

4.—(1) In these Regulations, “the Hazardous Waste Directive” means Council Directive 91/689/EEC(19) of 31st December 1991 on hazardous waste, as amended by Council Directive 94/31/EC(20).

(2) A reference in these Regulations to—

(a) Annex I, Annex II or Annex III is a reference to the annex of the Hazardous Waste Directive so numbered, as that annex is for the time being set out in these Regulations as follows—

(i) Schedule 1, which sets out Annex I (Categories or generic types of hazardous waste listed according to their nature or the activity which generated them);

(ii) Schedule 2, which sets out Annex II (Constituents of the wastes in Annex I.B which render them hazardous when they have the properties described in Annex III); and

(iii) Schedule 3, which sets out Annex III (Properties of wastes which render them hazardous);

(b) hazardous properties is a reference to the properties in Annex III as so set out.

The List of Wastes

5.  In these Regulations—

(a) “the List of Wastes Decision” means Commission Decision 2000/532/EC(21) of 3rd May 2000 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, as amended by amendments thereto which have effect from time to time in relation to Northern Ireland pursuant to the List of Wastes Regulations;

(b) “the List of Wastes Regulations” means the List of Wastes (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2005(22);

(c) “the List of Wastes” means the List of Wastes set out in the List of Wastes Decision as it is for the time being set out in the List of Wastes Regulations, being the list referred to in the first indent of Article 1(4) of the Hazardous Waste Directive drawn up on the basis of Annexes I and II, having one or more of the properties listed in Annex III, taking account of the origin and composition of the waste and, where necessary, limit values of concentration; and

(d) in relation to any waste—

(i) the expressions “listed as a waste” and “listed as a hazardous waste” refer to that waste being listed as a waste, or as a hazardous waste as the case may be, for the time being in the List of Wastes(23) provided, in the case of a waste listed as a hazardous waste, it shall only be considered to be listed as a hazardous waste where any relevant limit value of concentration is met; and

(ii) the expression “not listed as hazardous” refers to that waste being not listed as a hazardous waste for the time being in the List of Wastes, whether or not it is listed as a waste, and whether or not it is otherwise a hazardous waste pursuant to these Regulations;

and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly.

PART 2 HAZARDOUS AND NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE

Meaning of hazardous waste

6.  Subject to regulation 10, a waste is a hazardous waste if it is for the time being—

(a) featured in the List of Wastes(24) as a hazardous waste; or

(b) any other waste which (being a waste considered(25) to display one or more of the properties listed in Annex III) is a hazardous waste pursuant to regulation 8; and

(c) a specific waste which, though of a type indicated in the List of Wastes as non-hazardous, is determined pursuant to regulation 9 to be a hazardous waste(26),

and the term “hazardous” and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly.

Meaning of non-hazardous waste

7.  The following are non-hazardous waste—

(a) a waste which is not, for the time being, a hazardous waste pursuant to regulation 6; or

(b) a specific waste which, though of a type indicated in the List of Wastes as hazardous, is determined pursuant to regulation 10 to be non-hazardous,

and the expression “non-hazardous” and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly.

Determination that a waste is hazardous

8.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, where it appears to the Department that, having regard to Annexes I, II and III and the limit values of concentration in the List of Wastes, there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a waste of a type listed, or falling within a type listed, in the List of Wastes as non-hazardous displays one or more hazardous properties, it may determine that, in Northern Ireland, such waste is a hazardous waste.

(2) The Department may revoke a determination made under paragraph (1)(27).

(3) Before making a determination under paragraph (1) or revoking a determination under paragraph (2), the Department shall consult the requisite bodies, except where it considers it inappropriate to do so in any case on account of the nature of an emergency or grave danger.

(4) The Department shall publish in such manner as it considers appropriate for the purpose of informing persons likely to be affected thereby, a notice of any determination made under paragraph (1) or revocation under paragraph (2), and the notice shall include—

(a) the date and time at which the determination or revocation, as the case may be, is to take effect (which may be immediately upon publication); and

(b) a description of the waste sufficient to identify it,

and shall send a copy of the notice to the requisite bodies.

(5) The notice shall give reasons for the determination or revocation, as the case may be.

(6) Where waste enters Northern Ireland from England, Scotland or Wales, a determination in force under this regulation shall apply to it notwithstanding that a determination to like effect is not in force in respect of England, Scotland or Wales, as the case may be.

Specific waste to be treated as hazardous

9.—(1) Without prejudice to regulation 8, the Department, having regard to Annexes I, II and III and the limit values of concentration in the List of Wastes, may determine, in exceptional cases, that a specific waste produced in Northern Ireland and indicated in the List of Wastes as non-hazardous displays one or more of the hazardous properties, and accordingly that that waste is a hazardous waste.

(2) A specific waste produced in England, Wales or Scotland and indicated in the List of Wastes as non-hazardous and which is for the time being determined to be hazardous, pursuant to Article 3 of the List of Wastes Decision, shall be treated for all purposes as hazardous waste in Northern Ireland.

Specific waste to be treated as non-hazardous

10.—(1) The Department may decide, in exceptional cases, on the basis of documentary evidence provided in an appropriate way by the holder, and having regard to Annexes I, II and III and the limit values of concentration in the List of Wastes, that a specific waste produced in Northern Ireland and indicated in the List as being hazardous does not display any of the properties listed in Annex III to the Hazardous Waste Directive.

(2) A specific waste produced in England, Wales or Scotland and indicated in the List of Wastes as hazardous waste and which is for the time being determined to be non-hazardous pursuant to Article 3 of the List of Wastes Decision, shall be treated for all purposes as non-hazardous in Northern Ireland.

Provisions common to regulations 9 and 10

11.—(1) The Department may revoke a determination made under regulation 9 or 10.

(2) The Department shall, before making a determination pursuant to regulation 9 or 10 or revoking such a determination, except where it considers it inappropriate to do so on account of the nature of any emergency or grave danger, consult—

(a) the requisite bodies;

(b) the holder of the specific waste; and

(c) any other person appearing to it—

(i) to have an interest in the specific waste; or

(ii) to be otherwise directly affected by the determination.

(3) The Department shall give notice of any determination or revocation made under regulation 9 or 10 to—

(a) the requisite bodies;

(b) the holder of the specific waste concerned;

(c) any person it has consulted pursuant to paragraph (2)(c).

(4) The notice shall give reasons for the determination or revocation, as the case may be.

Requisite bodies

12.  The “requisite bodies”(28) are—

(a) the Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs;

(b) the Environment Agency of England and Wales;

(c) the Scottish Executive;

(d) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency;

(e) the National Assembly for Wales;

(f) the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland; and

(g) any organisation appearing to the Department to be representative of persons likely to be affected by the relevant determination, direction or revocation of a determination or direction, as the case may be.

PART 3 APPLICATION

Application of Regulations to domestic asbestos waste

13.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4) below and Regulation 14, these Regulations apply to hazardous waste including waste that was produced on or removed from premises in England, Scotland, Wales, or Gibraltar; or which is, or is to be, transported to a place in one of those jurisdictions, and to any consignment of waste transported on any ship in the internal waters and the territorial sea of the United Kingdom adjacent to Northern Ireland, whether or not the ship is registered in the United Kingdom, or if a United Kingdom registered ship, whether or not registered in Northern Ireland.

(2) Except as provided for in paragraphs (3) and (4) below these regulations apply to domestic asbestos waste, except in so far as the Regulations would, apart from this paragraph, impose obligations on a person to whom paragraph (3) applies.

(3) This paragraph applies to a person who is both the original producer of the domestic waste and who is either—

(a) a person who resides at the domestic premises at which the asbestos waste arises; or

(b) a person who is acting on behalf of such a person without reward.

(4) In the application of these Regulations to the asbestos waste—

(a) not being domestic waste; and

(b) produced in the course of any of the activities of construction, modification, repair and maintenance (including structural works) or demolition of domestic premises or any part thereof,

(5) These Regulations operate in relation to a domestic occupier who has engaged any person, other than a person mentioned in paragraph (3)(b), for the carrying out of any such activity so as to treat that person as the producer of the domestic asbestos waste to the exclusion of the occupier.

Separately collected domestic fractions

14.—(1) This regulation applies to separately collected domestic fractions, that is to say, hazardous waste which is—

(a) domestic waste; and

(b) collected from the premises on which it is produced separately from the collection of other waste from those premises.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), hazardous waste may be considered to be collected separately from the collection of other waste notwithstanding that it is collected at the same time or on the same vehicle or both, provided that the hazardous waste is not mixed with the other waste.

(3) These Regulations apply to separately collected fractions, provided that—

(a) nothing in this regulation imposes any obligations in relation to such waste on any person other than an establishment or undertaking which collects, transports, recovers or disposes of such waste; and

(b) where pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) these Regulations do not apply to the person who, but for this sub-paragraph, would be treated as the consignor, the person who collects the waste shall be treated as the consignor.

Radioactive waste

15.—(1) This regulation applies where radioactive waste within the meaning of section 2 of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993(29)—

(a) is exempt for the time being from the requirements of—

(i) section 13 (disposal of radioactive waste); or

(ii) section 14 (accumulation of radioactive waste), of that Act by or pursuant to section 15 of that Act; and

(b) has one or more hazardous properties arising other than from its radioactive nature.

(2) Notwithstanding regulation 3(1)(b)(ii), radioactive waste to which this regulation applies is treated as waste for the purposes of these Regulations, and accordingly it is treated as hazardous waste and these Regulations apply to that waste.

Agricultural waste

16.—(1) These Regulations do not apply to agricultural waste before 1st September 2006, but apply on and after that date to agricultural waste whenever it became waste.

(2) For the purpose of this regulation, “agricultural waste” means waste from premises used for agriculture within the meaning of the Agricultural Act (Northern Ireland) 1949(30).

Mines and quarries waste

17.  These Regulations do not apply to waste from a mine or quarry(31) before 1st September 2006, but apply on and after that date to such waste whenever it became waste.

PART 4 MIXING HAZARDOUS WASTE

Meaning of mixing hazardous waste

18.  For the purposes of these Regulations, hazardous waste of any description shall be considered to have been mixed if it has been mixed with—

(a) a different category of hazardous waste;

(b) a non-hazardous waste; or

(c) any substance or material other than hazardous waste of the same category.

Prohibition on mixing hazardous waste without a permit

19.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), no establishment or undertaking which carries out the disposal or recovery of hazardous waste, or which produces, collects or transports hazardous waste, shall mix any hazardous waste.

(2) The prohibition in paragraph 1 shall not apply so as to prohibit a process by which waste is produced and which results in the production of mixed wastes, being a process other than one which mixes a waste with any other waste substance or material, resulting in—

(a) a change in the nature or composition of that waste; or

(b) the production of another waste.

(c) Paragraph 1 above shall not apply to the extent that the mixing is authorised by and is in compliance with the conditions of a permit.

Duty to separate mixed wastes

20.—(1) This regulation applies to the present holder where—

(a) the hazardous waste has been mixed other than under and in accordance with a waste permit, whether by the present holder or a previous holder;

(b) the present holder is an obligated holder; and

(c) separation is both—

(i) technically and economically feasible; and

(ii) necessary in order to comply with the Waste Directive conditions.

(2) The obligated holder must make arrangements for separation of the waste to be effected by an authorised person (which may be himself) as soon as reasonably practicable.

(3) For the purposes of these Regulations—

(a) “authorised person” in relation to any type of hazardous waste, means a person who is authorised (howsoever expressed) by a waste permit to separate hazardous waste of that type;

(b) “obligated holder” means a person who operates an establishment or undertaking which carries out disposal or recovery of, or collects or transports, hazardous waste, whether or not that holder is also an authorised person;

(c) “separation” means separation of a waste from any other waste, substance or material with which it has been mixed; and

(d) separation shall, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be considered to be reasonably practicable when the waste arrives at, or could, without unreasonable delay, have arrived at, a site where separation is permitted by a waste permit.

PART 5 MOVEMENT OF HAZARDOUS WASTE

Packaging and labelling

General duty in relation to packaging and labelling

21.—(1) In the course of its collection, transport and temporary storage, the consignor shall ensure that hazardous waste is properly packaged and labelled in accordance with the relevant international and European Community standards in force.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the international and Community standards in force are taken to be—

(a) ADR, that is to say, the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road signed at Geneva on 30th September 1957;

(b) RID, that is to say, Annex I to Appendix B of the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF);

(c) IMDG, that is to say, the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code;

(d) the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air issued by the International Aviation Authority (ICAO); and

(e) the ADN, that is to say, the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterway.

Coding of consignments

22.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the Department shall assign or supply forthwith to any person, on request, for the purpose of assigning to a consignment of hazardous waste or, where the consignment is one in a carrier’s round, to the consignments in that round, a code unique to that consignment or round, as the case may be.

(2) A code assigned or supplied in accordance with paragraph (1) may consist of letters, numbers or symbols, or any combination of letters, numbers and symbols, or a bar code which enables the consignment or carrier’s round, as the case may be, to be identified electronically.

(3) The Department need not assign or supply a code for a consignment or round until any fee required in respect of it under regulation 36 has been paid.

Standard procedure

23.—(1) Except in a case to which regulations 24, 27, 28, 29 or 30 applies, this regulation applies where a consignment of hazardous waste is to be removed from the premises at which it is being held, and any consignment of waste produced or held at premises in Northern Ireland (including rejected loads to which regulation 31 applies) can only be removed under a consignment note in the form set out in Schedule 4 to these regulations.

(2) Before the consignment is removed—

(a) the producer, holder, or other person on his behalf as the case may be, shall prepare six copies of the consignment note, and, on each copy, and shall complete Parts A and B of the consignment note as set out in Schedule 4 to these regulations including reference to:

(i) the relevant code;

(ii) the six digit code referable to the waste in accordance with the List of Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005; and

(iii) the postcode of the producer of the waste.

(b) the consignor shall ensure that one of those copies (on which Parts A and B have been completed and the relevant code entered) is furnished to the Department;

(c) the carrier shall complete Part C on each of the five remaining copies; and

(d) the consignor—

(i) shall complete Part D on each of those copies;

(ii) where the hazardous waste producer or holder, as the case may be, is not the consignor, ensure that one of those copies is given to him ;

(iii) shall retain one copy (on which Parts A to D have been completed and the relevant code entered); and

(iv) shall give the three remaining copies (on which Parts A to D have been completed and the relevant code entered) to the carrier

(3) The carrier shall ensure that the copies which he has received—

(a) travel with the consignment; and

(b) are given to the consignee on delivery of the consignment.

(4) Subject to regulation 31, on receiving the consignment the consignee shall—

(a) complete Part E on the three copies of the consignment note given to him;

(b) retain one copy;

(c) give one copy to the carrier;

(d) forthwith furnish one copy to the Department.

(5) The carrier shall retain the copy of the consignment note given to him by the consignee.

Cases in which pre-notification is not required

24.—(1) For the purposes of regulation 25, except in a case to which regulation 27 applies, this regulation applies—

(a) subject to paragraph (2)(a), to the removal, from the premises at which it is being held, of each of the second and any subsequent consignment of hazardous waste in a succession of consignment of hazardous waste,

(b) subject to paragraph (2)(b), to the removal as a consignment of hazardous waste of a product or material for the purposes of the return by the person to whom the product or material had been supplied to the person who supplied it to him or who manufactured it,

(c) subject to paragraph (2)(c), to the removal of a consignment of hazardous waste where the consignor and the consignee are bodies corporate belonging to the same group,

(d) to the removal from a ship in a harbour area of a consignment of hazardous waste to a conveyance for transportation to a place outside that area, and

(e) to the removal of a consignment of hazardous waste which consists entirely of lead acid batteries.

(2) This regulation does not apply unless—

(a) in the case mentioned in paragraph (1)(a), in respect of each consignment—

(i) the waste is of the same description as the waste in the first of the consignments in the succession;

(ii) the consignor is the same person;

(iii) the consignee is the same person;

(iv) the premises from which the consignment is removed are the same;

(v) the place to which the consignment is transported is the same; and

(vi) the removal of the consignment takes place within one year of the removal of the first consignment in the succession;

(b) in the case mentioned in paragraph (1)(b), the person to whom the product or material was supplied is satisfied that, as supplied, the product or material fails to meet any specification which he expected it to meet:

(c) in the case mentioned in paragraph (1)(c), the removal is for either storage of waste pending any of the operations listed in Annex IIA to Council Directive 75/442/EEC(32), or storage of waste consisting of materials intended for submission to any operation listed in Annex IIB to that Directive, but, in either case, excluding temporary storage, pending collection, on the site where the waste is produced, and the consignee is the holder of a permit which authorises the relevant operation;

(3) In paragraph (1)(c) “group”, in relation to a body corporate, means that body corporate, any other body corporate which is its holding company or subsidiary and any other body corporate which is a subsidiary of that holding company; and for these purposes—

“body corporate” does not include a corporation sole, but includes a company incorporated elsewhere than in Northern Ireland; and

“holding company” and “subsidiary” have the meaning given by Article 4 of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986(33).

Procedure where pre-notification is not required

25.  Paragraph (2), with the exception of sub-paragraph (b), and paragraphs (3) to (5) of regulation 23 shall apply in cases to which regulation 24 applies as if—

(a) “five” were substituted for “six” in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (2) of regulation 23;

(b) references to the consignor were references—

(i) in relation to the case mentioned in regulation 24(1)(b), to the person to whom the product or material was supplied; and

(ii) in relation to the case mentioned in regulation 24(1)(d), to the master of the ship; and

(c) references to the consignee were references, in relation to the case mentioned in regulation 24(1)(b), to the person to whom the product or material is to be returned.

Schedule of Carriers

26.—(1) This regulation applies in all cases (whether under regulation 23, or any of regulations 27 to 31) where more than one carrier transports, or is to transport, the consignment.

(2) Before the consignment is removed—

(a) the consignor shall ensure that—

(i) a copy of the schedule of carriers in the form set out in Schedule 5 is prepared for the hazardous waste producer or holder (where different from the consignor), the consignor, every carrier and the consignee;

(ii) all copies are given to the first carrier.

(b) the first carrier shall ensure that all copies travel with the consignment.

(c) on delivery of the consignment to each subsequent carrier—

(i) the previous carrier shall give the subsequent carrier all copies of the schedule;

(ii) the subsequent carrier shall complete the relevant certificate on each copy, give one to the previous carrier who shall retain it, and ensure that all remaining copies travel with the consignment.

(d) where the consignment is delivered to a consignee, the carrier shall retain one copy of the carriers schedule and give the remaining copies to the consignee.

(e) on receipt of completion of consignment, the consignee must forward forthwith a copy of the completed schedule of carriers to the Department.

(3) Where—

(a) arrangements for the transport of the consignment have not been made with all carriers intended to be involved before transport commences; or

(b) though such arrangements have been made, there is a change in the arrangements for any reason, paragraphs (1) and (3) apply as if the carrier in possession of the consignment when further arrangements are made, in the case of paragraph (a), or take effect, in the case of paragraph (b), were the hazardous waste producer or holder and the next carrier were the first carrier.

(4) Where this regulation applies, other than in the case of a rejected consignment of hazardous waste under regulation 31, regulation 23 has effect as if—

(a) a reference to the hazardous waste being removed includes reference to its possession being transferred to the next carrier;

(b) in paragraph (2)(c) and (d), the reference to “the carrier” were a reference to “the first carrier”;

(c) for the purposes of paragraph (3)(a) the reference to “the carrier” in paragraph (3) were a reference to “every carrier”;

(d) for the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), the reference to “the carrier” in paragraph (3) were a reference to “the final carrier”;

(e) in paragraph (4)(c) and (5) the reference to “the carrier” were a reference to “the final carrier”.

Carrier’s rounds

27.—(1) This regulation applies to a carrier’s round or to a succession of such rounds by the same carrier starting and ending within a twelve month period in respect of which—

(a) every consignor is a person specified in the consignment note or in the schedule prepared in accordance with paragraph (2)(b)(iii) or whose particulars are notified in writing to the Department not less than 72 hours before the removal of the first waste on the carrier’s round

(b) the premises from which the hazardous waste is removed are within Northern Ireland and are specified in the consignment note or in the schedule prepared in accordance with paragraph (2)(b)(iii) or notified in writing to the Department not less than 72 hours before the removal of the first waste on the carrier’s round;

(c) the hazardous waste is of a description specified in the consignment note; and

(d) in the case of a single round other than a round that satisfies the requirements of regulation 36(2)(a), the time between the collection of the first consignment and the final consignment is no more than 24 hours.

(2) Before the first removal of waste, the carrier shall—

(a) on any carrier’s round which is not in a succession or on the first round in such a succession, ensure that—

(i) Parts A and B of the consignment note are completed and that the relevant code is entered;

(ii) except where the hazardous waste to be collected on the carrier’s round consists entirely of lead acid batteries, one copy of the consignment note is furnished to the Department;

(b) on every round—

(i) prepare three copies of the consignment note in addition to one copy for each consignor from whom waste is to be collected during the round;

(ii) complete on those copies Parts A and B, the carrier’s particulars and particulars of transport in Part C, the code assigned or supplied under regulation 4 in respect of the round and, if it is a second or subsequent round, the code in respect of the first round; and

(iii) ensure that four copies of a schedule are prepared in the form set out in Schedule 6 in addition to one consignor’s copy for each site from which waste is to be collected during that round.

(3) In a case where waste of more than one description is specified in the consignment note, either—

(a) the schedule referred to in paragraph (2)(b)(iii) shall contain a separate entry for each description of waste to be collected from each consignor showing the description of waste to which that entry relates; or

(b) each entry in the schedule shall show the different descriptions of the waste to be collected and, for each such description, the quantity of the waste to be collected.

(4) The consignor shall, before the removal of waste from a site, complete on all the copies that part of the schedule indicated on it as for completion by him.

(5) The carrier shall ensure, before the removal of the waste, that—

(a) the part of the schedule indicated on it as for completion by him is completed on all the copies and includes a record of the time at which it is completed; and

(b) he has all copies of the schedule (on which the part to be completed by the consignor has been completed) except the copy to be retained by the consignor under paragraph (6).

(6) The consignor shall retain in respect of each site one copy of the consignment note and of that part of the schedule on which the parts to be completed by him and by the carrier have been completed.

(7) Before the removal of the last consignment of waste on the carrier’s round, the carrier shall complete Part C on the three copies of the consignment note retained by him.

(8) The carrier shall ensure that the copies of the consignment note and of the schedule which he has received—

(a) travel with the waste to which they refer;

(b) are given to the consignee on delivery of the waste.

(9) Subject to regulation 31, on receiving the waste collected on each round, the consignee shall—

(a) complete Part E on the three copies of the consignment note given to him;

(b) retain one copy of the consignment note and one copy of the schedule;

(c) give to the carrier a copy of the consignment note and a copy of the schedule; and

(d) forthwith furnish to the Department one copy of the consignment note and one copy of the form in Schedule 6.

(10) The carrier shall retain the copies given to him in accordance with paragraph 9(c).

Removal of ships' waste to reception facilities

28.—(1) This regulation applies where hazardous waste (including excesses or spillage from loading or unloading, which have been accidentally spilled on land adjacent to the ship) is removed from any ship, whether or not a United Kingdom registered ship, in a harbour area to—

(a) reception facilities provided within that harbour area; or

(b) by pipeline to any such facilities provided outside a harbour area.

(2) Before the waste is removed from the ship—

(a) three copies of the consignment note shall be prepared and Parts A and B shall be completed and the relevant code entered on each of those copies;

(b) the operator of the facilities shall complete Part C on each of those copies; and

(c) the master of the ship—

(i) shall ensure that Part D is completed on each of those copies;

(ii) shall retain one copy (on which Parts A to D have been completed); and

(iii) shall give the two remaining copies (on which Parts A to D have been completed) to the operator of the facilities.

(3) Subject to regulation 31, on receiving a consignment of hazardous waste the operator of the facilities shall—

(a) complete Part E on the copies of the consignment note which he has received;

(b) retain one copy; and

(c) forthwith furnish the other copy to the Department.

Removal of ships' wastes other than to reception facilities

29.—(1) This regulation applies where hazardous waste is removed from any ship, whether or not a United Kingdom registered ship, in a harbour area other than in a case to which regulation 27 applies.

(2) Before the consignment is removed—

(a) the master of the ship shall ensure that—

(i) four copies of the consignment note are prepared;

(ii) on each of the copies Parts A and B are completed; and

(iii) all copies are given to the carrier.

(b) the carrier shall complete Part C on each of the copies;

(c) the master of the ship shall—

(i) ensure that Part D is completed on each of the copies;

(ii) retain one copy; and

(iii) give the remaining copies to the carrier;

(d) the carrier shall ensure that the copies which he has received—

(i) travel with the consignment; and

(ii) are given to the consignee on delivery of the consignment.

(3) Subject to regulation 31, on receiving the consignment the consignee shall—

(a) complete Part E on both copies; and

(b) give one copy to the carrier;

(c) retain a copy;

(d) forthwith furnish the other copy to the Department.

Removal of wastes by pipeline

30.—(1) This regulation applies where hazardous waste is removed from any premises (other than a ship) on which it is produced or stored by pipeline other than in a case to which regulation 28 or 29 applies.

(2) Before the waste is first piped, and, where the piping is continuous and exceeds one quarter in duration, at the commencement of each further quarter the producer, or holder, as the case may be, shall ensure that—

(a) one copy of the consignment note is prepared for each of the following: the producer or holder, as the case may be, where different from the consignor, the consignor, the consignee and the Department;

(b) on each of the copies Parts A, B and D are completed, provided that in Part B5 the average flow rate shall be recorded, together with an estimate of the total volume of waste to be piped per week or calendar month.

(3) Part C shall not be completed.

(4) Subject to regulation 31, the consignee shall complete Part E on each copy of the note, the application of which is modified as follows—

(a) in Part E1, the reference to the date on which the waste was received shall be taken to be a reference to the last date on which waste was received by the consignee pursuant to that consignment note; and

(b) in Part E3, the particulars of the vehicle registration are not required.

(5) The consignee shall retain one copy of the consignment note and ensure that a copy is given to the consignor, to the hazardous waste producer or holder, where different from the consignor, and to the Department.

Duty of consignee not accepting delivery of a consignment

31.—(1) This regulation applies where the consignee does not accept delivery of a consignment of hazardous waste in whole or in part.

(2) In a case to which this regulation applies the requirements of regulation 23(4), 27(9), 283), 29(3) or 30(4) (which relate to the duties of the consignee on acceptance of the consignment), as the case may be, shall not apply to the consignee in respect of the consignment, or part thereof, which has been rejected.

(3) If, in a case to which this regulation applies, copies of the consignment note have been given to the consignee he shall—

(a) indicate on Part E of each copy that he does not accept the consignment and the reasons why he does not accept the consignment;

(b) retain one copy;

(c) ensure that one copy, accompanied by one copy of any carrier’s schedule given to him in accordance with regulation 27, are furnished forthwith to the Department; and

(d) ensure that the other copy is returned to the carrier forthwith.

(4) If, in a case to which this regulation applies, no copies of the consignment note have been given to the consignee he shall ensure that a written explanation of his reasons for not accepting delivery, including such details of the consignment and of the carrier as are known to him, is furnished forthwith to the Department.

(5) In a case to which this regulation applies—

(a) on being informed that the consignee will not accept delivery of the consignment, the carrier shall inform the Department and seek instructions from the consignor;

(b) the consignor shall forthwith inform the carrier and the Department of his intentions as regards the consignment; and

(c) the carrier shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that the consignor’s intentions are fulfilled.

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (5), the consignor may propose one of the following, namely—

(a) the delivery of the consignment to the premises from which it had been collected;

(b) the delivery of the consignment to the premises at which it had been produced;

(c) the delivery of the consignment to other specified premises subject to a permit necessary to authorise the receipt of the waste.

Requirement for a new consignment note

32.—(1) This regulation applies where, in accordance with regulation 31(6)(c), a consignor proposes that a consignment be delivered to other specified premises in respect of which there is held any waste management licence necessary to authorise receipt of the waste.

(2) Before the consignment is delivered to those premises—

(a) four copies of a new consignment note shall be prepared and—

(i) on each copy Parts A and B shall be completed and the relevant code entered, including the previous code;

(ii) to each copy shall be attached a copy of any relevant previous carrier’s schedule, annotated to show which consignment was not accepted;

(b) the carrier shall complete Part C on each of those copies;

(c) the consignor, subject to paragraph (3) below—

(i) shall complete Part D on each of those copies

(ii) shall retain one copy (on which Parts A to D have been completed and the relevant codes entered); and

(iii) shall give the three remaining copies (on which Parts A to D have been completed and the relevant codes entered) to the carrier.

(3) The carrier may, where he has received written instructions from the consignor to that effect, complete Part D of each of the copies of the consignment note on behalf of the consignor, and where he does so he shall send to the consignor, the consignor’s copy (on which Parts A to D have been completed and the relevant codes entered).

(4) The carrier shall ensure that the three copies of the consignment note which he has received (or, if paragraph (3) applies, retained)—

(a) travel with the consignment; and

(b) are given to the consignee on delivery of the consignment.

(5) Subject to regulation 9, on receiving the consignment the consignee shall—

(a) complete Part E on all copies of the consignment note given to him;

(b) retain one copy;

(c) give one copy to the carrier; and

(d) forthwith furnish one copy to the Department for the place to which the consignment has been transported.

(6) The carrier shall retain the copy of the consignment note given to him by the consignee.

Provisions as to furnishing of consignment notes

33.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (3) and (6), a copy of a consignment note required by regulation 23 or 27 to be furnished to the Department must be furnished not more than one month and not less than 72 hours before the removal of the consignment.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (6), a copy of a consignment note required to be furnished by regulation 27(2)(a)(ii) shall be furnished not less than 72 hours before the removal of the first consignment to which the consignment note relates.

(3) The copy of the consignment note mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (2) may be furnished to the Department within 72 hours before the removal where—

(a) the consignment is to be delivered to other specified premises pursuant to a proposal under regulation 31(6)(c);

(b) the consignment can not lawfully remain where it is for 72 hours.

(4) The requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be treated as satisfied if—

(a) a facsimile of the copy is furnished to the Department by telephonic, electronic or other similar means of transmission in compliance with the time limits set out in those paragraphs, and

(b) the copy is furnished to the Department before or, in accordance with paragraph (5), forthwith upon removal of the consignment.

(5) A copy of a consignment note or a written explanation of reasons for refusing to accept delivery of any hazardous waste is furnished to the Department in accordance with this paragraph if it, and any document required to be furnished with it, is—

(a) delivered to the Department, or

(b) posted to the Department by pre-paid first class post,

(c) within one day of the receipt, removal or refusal to accept delivery of the hazardous waste in question, as the case may be.

(6) In reckoning any period of hours for the purposes of these Regulations, the hours of any—

(a) Saturday or Sunday;

(b) Good Friday or Christmas Day;

(c) day which is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(34); or

(d) other public holiday,

shall be disregarded.

Duty to deliver consignment within time limit

34.—(1) It is the duty of a carrier ordinarily to deliver the consignment to the consignee within one week of collection or in the case of a consignment under a carrier’s round, in accordance with regulation 27 below, one week from the time of the last collection under the round.

(2) Where it is not reasonably practicable to deliver the consignment to the consignee in accordance with the time limit in paragraph (1) above, the carrier shall inform the Department and it is the duty of the carrier to deliver the consignment to the consignee without due delay.

Mutual recognition of consignment notes

35.—(1) Nothing in regulations 23 to 34 shall apply in relation to shipments of waste to which the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 259/93(35), other than Title III of that Regulation, apply.

(2) Schedule 7 has effect in connection with the mutual recognition of consignment notes and the cross border movement of hazardous waste between Northern Ireland, England and Wales, Scotland and Gibraltar.

(3) Where hazardous waste is produced in Northern Ireland, its transfer within the United Kingdom must be accompanied by a consignment note, in the form set out in Schedule 4 to these Regulations, and with a code provided by the Department.

Fees

36.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), in connection with the assignment or supply of a code for a consignment or a carrier’s round in accordance with regulation 22(1), the Department shall require payment of a fee of—

(a) £10 in respect of a code relating to a consignment, or a round, which consists entirely of lead acid batteries;

(b) £24 in other cases.

(2) The Department shall not require payment of a fee where the code is assigned or supplied in connection with—

(a) a second or subsequent carrier’s round in a succession of such rounds in which a single vehicle is used and in respect of which—

(i) the carrier is also the consignee in relation to every consignment in all the rounds;

(ii) no more than one consignment is collected from any consignor during the succession;

(iii) the total weight of hazardous waste collected in each round does not exceed 400 kg; and

(iv) the time between the collection of the first consignment on the first round in the succession and the delivery of the last consignment to the place to which it is to be transported is no more than one week.

(b) the removal of a single consignment of hazardous waste for the purposes set out in regulation 24(1)(b) provided that the person to whom the product or material was supplied is satisfied that it fails to meet any specification which he expected it to meet; or

(c) the removal of hazardous waste from a ship in a harbour area—

(i) to a conveyance for transportation to a place outside that area;

(ii) to reception facilities provided within the same harbour area; or

(iii) by pipeline to reception facilities provided outside the harbour area.

(3) Where the Department assigns or supplies a code under regulation 22(1) without the fee required under this regulation having been paid to it, the person who requested the assignment or supply shall be required to pay the fee to the Department within the period of two months beginning with the date on which the request was made.

PART 6 REGISTERS, RECORDS AND RETURNS

Registers of consignments

37.—(1) The following provisions of this regulation apply in relation to registers of consignments and, as appropriate, to other registers required to be kept under regulations 37 to 40.

(2) Records must be made in a register kept for the purposes, and, insofar as is consistent with the provisions of regulations 37 to 40 and paragraph (3) of this regulation, registers may be kept in any form.

(3) Producers, consignors, carriers, and consignees shall keep registers containing the information set out in paragraph (4).

(4) A person who is required to keep a register shall enter in the register each copy of—

(a) a consignment note (including where consignments are not accepted, the original note and the note prepared pursuant to regulation 32), and, where applicable, written explanation and schedule of carriers) completed to any extent by, or given to him, pursuant these regulations;

(b) a consignee’s return to the producer, holder or consignor received pursuant to regulation 41; and

(c) a carrier’s schedule given to him pursuant to regulation 26;

and, where a regulation requiring records to be kept is silent as to the length of time for which records are to be kept under these regulations, keep the copies on the register for not less than three years from the date on which the hazardous waste was first removed from the premises at which it was produced, or held, as the case may be.

(5) Any register kept or retained under this regulation shall be produced on demand by and given up for inspection to the Department.

(6) An establishment or undertaking to which hazardous waste is delivered for treatment or disposal, as the case may be, shall provide to the previous holder of the waste, or to the Department, on request, documentary evidence that the management operation concerned has been carried out, indicating the relevant operation where applicable in accordance with the numbering and description applicable in accordance with the list in Annex IIA or Annex IIB, as the case may be, of the Waste Directive.

(7) A person who is required to retain any record shall at any time during the period in which the record is required to be retained (and without prejudice to any duty to send the record to the Department at the end of that period), produce that record, in any form reasonably required, to the Department or emergency services on request.

(8) A producer, holder, consignor, carrier or consignee of hazardous waste shall supply to the Department on request such information as it may reasonably require for the purposes of performing its functions in connection with these Regulations and for the purposes of monitoring the production, movement, storage, recovery and disposal of hazardous waste.

Producers', holders' and consignors' records

38.—(1) A producer or holder of hazardous waste, and where different from the producer, a consignor of hazardous waste, shall keep a record of the quantity, nature, origin and, where relevant, the destination, frequency of collection, mode of transport and treatment method of the waste.

(2) Where the waste is transported from the premises where it is produced or held by a person other than the producer or holder the duty in paragraph (1) includes a requirement to keep a record of particulars sufficient to identify that other person.

(3) The producer or holder, as the case may be, shall preserve the records to be made pursuant to this regulation whilst he remains the holder of the waste and for at least three years commencing on the date on which the waste is transferred to another person.

(4) The information to be recorded pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this regulation shall be recorded in a register kept by the producer or holder, as the case may be, for the purpose.

(5) Except where paragraph (6) applies, the register required to be kept and retained by a producer or holder under paragraph (4) of this regulation shall be kept at the premises at which the hazardous waste was produced.

(6) Where the period mentioned in paragraph (3) has not expired, for the remainder of that period the producer or holder shall keep the register at the producer’s or holder’s principal place of business where and only where:

(a) he ceases to have access to the premises in paragraph (5);

(b) his access to the premises in paragraph (5) is not and has never been regular access;

and in either case he shall notify the Department forthwith.

(7) Any register kept and retained under this regulation or shall be produced to and made available for inspection by the Department on request.

Site records

39.—(1) Any person who makes a deposit of hazardous waste whether by way of storage or disposal in or on any land shall record, as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any event within 24 hours, the location and identity of the waste as required by paragraphs (2) to (4) below, and shall keep such records until his permit is surrendered or revoked and shall then send the records to the Department.

(2) Such records shall comprise either—

(a) a site plan marked with a grid, or

(b) a site plan with overlays on which deposits of the waste are shown in relation to the contours of the site.

(3) Deposits shall be identified by reference to the register of consignment notes kept under regulation 37, and shall contain a description of the composition of the waste including a reference to the six digit code in the List of Wastes save that where waste is disposed of—

(a) by pipeline, or

(b) within the curtilage of the premises at which it is produced,

the deposits shall be described by reference to a record of the composition of the waste and the date of its disposal.

Records of hazardous waste recovered or received by treatment facilities and transfer stations

40.—(1) Any person who—

(a) recovers hazardous waste in or on land; or

(b) receives hazardous waste at a transfer station,

or both shall record and identify any hazardous waste received in accordance with the following requirements of this regulation and regulation 37.

(2) The waste shall be identified in the record by reference to the relevant description and six digit code in the List of Wastes, and the entry shall include a description of the composition of the waste.

(3) The record shall include—

(a) the quantity, nature and origin of any such waste;

(b) the relevant hazardous properties;

(c) where applicable, the recovery method in respect of the waste by reference to the numbering and description applicable in accordance with Annex IIB of the Waste Directive; and

(d) an inventory showing the specific location at which the waste is being held.

(4) The record shall be updated as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event no later than 24 hours after—

(a) each consignment of hazardous waste is received; and

(b) any recovery operations are carried out or any hazardous waste is placed in storage at the transfer station, as the case may be;

(c) any hazardous waste is removed from the premises.

(5) A person who is required to make or retain records pursuant to this regulation shall—

(a) keep the register on the site where the recovery operations take place or the transfer station is operated, as the case may be; or

(b) where the register cannot be kept on the site in accordance with paragraph (5)(a) above, at his principal place of business or such other address as agreed with the Department for that purpose; and

(c) retain the records—

(i) where the hazardous waste is fully recovered, or remains at a transfer station, as the case may be, until it leaves the site and for three years thereafter;

(ii) in any other case, until his waste permit pursuant to which the site is operated is surrendered or revoked, and shall then send those records to the Department.

Consignee’s return to the producer, holder or consignor

41.—(1) Without prejudice to any duty under these Regulations on the part of the consignee to send any document or copy thereof to the producer, holder or consignor, a consignee shall send—

(a) a producer or holder a return in a form corresponding to the form set out in Schedule 8 or a form substantially to like effect; or

(b) a copy of the consignment note together with a description of the method of disposal or recovery to the hazardous waste producer or holder identified in Part A of the consignment note, within 30 days of accepting a consignment of hazardous waste, or, where hazardous waste was delivered by pipeline in a case to which regulation 30 applies, of piping having ceased, or, where the piping is continuous and exceeds one quarter in duration, on the first day of each successive quarter.

(2) Where regulation 31 (duty of consignee not accepting delivery) applies, this regulation does not apply to the consignment or part concerned.

(3) Where the consignee is required to make a return in accordance with sub-paragraph 1 above, that return may be completed electronically or by other similar means of transmission.

PART 7 ENFORCEMENT

Inspections

42.—(1) Any establishment or undertaking which produces hazardous waste shall be subject to appropriate periodic inspections by the Department.

(2) The Department shall carry out appropriate periodic inspections of collection and transport operations (including operations where the hazardous waste is transported following transfer between different carriers) as required pursuant to Article 13 of the Waste Directive and without prejudice to the generality of the requirement to conduct such inspections to conduct the inspections so that they cover more particularly the origin and destination of the hazardous waste.

(3) It is the duty of the Department to carry out such inspections together with inspections of the registers referred to within these Regulations at such intervals as it considers appropriate, having regard to the need to meet the requirements of Article 13 of the Waste Directive and Article 5(2) of the Hazardous Waste Directive.

Offences

43.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) and (3), it shall be an offence for a person to fail to comply with a requirement imposed on that person by or under Parts 4, 5, 6 and 7 of these Regulations.

(2) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under paragraph (1) to prove that he was not reasonably able to comply with the provision in question by reason of an emergency or grave danger and that he took all steps as were reasonably practicable in the circumstances for—

(a) minimising any threat to the public or the environment; and

(b) ensuring that the provision in question was complied with as soon as reasonably practicable after the event.

(3) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this regulation to prove that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence.

(4) A person who, in purported compliance with a requirement imposed by or under any of the foregoing provisions to furnish any information, makes a statement which he knows to be false or misleading in a material particular, or recklessly makes any statement which is false or misleading in a material particular, commits an offence.

(5) A person who intentionally makes a false entry in any record or register required to be kept by virtue of any of the foregoing provisions of these Regulations commits an offence.

(6) Where the commission by any person of an offence under this regulation is due to the act or default of some other person, that other person may be charged with and convicted of an offence by virtue of this paragraph whether or not proceedings are taken against the first-mentioned person.

(7) Where an offence under this regulation which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to have been attributable to, any neglect on the part of a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, he, as well as the body corporate, shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

General duties on the holder in the event of an emergency or grave danger

44.—(1) In cases of emergency or grave danger, the holder of the hazardous waste shall—

(a) take all lawful and reasonable steps to avert the emergency or grave danger; or

(b) where it is not reasonably practicable to comply with paragraph (a), take all lawful and reasonable steps to mitigate the emergency or grave danger.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) an act or omission may be considered lawful notwithstanding that it would, apart from this regulation, constitute a breach of these Regulations.

(3) Where the holder of hazardous waste knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that an emergency or grave danger has arisen, he has the duty to notify the Department as soon as reasonably practicable of the circumstances.

(4) Where the holder takes any step in compliance with paragraph (1), he shall, save where such step has completely averted the emergency or grave danger, notify the Department as soon as reasonably practicable; and for the purposes of this paragraph, an emergency or grave danger shall not be considered to have been completely averted if any release has taken place of a substance or object which is, or which there are reasonable grounds to believe is, hazardous waste, whether or not the holder believes he has completely destroyed, retrieved or rendered harmless the substance or object.

(5) In the event of notification pursuant to paragraph (3) or (4) being made orally, the holder shall confirm in writing to the Department the matters notified within seven calendar days of the oral notification.

(6) For the purposes of this regulation—

(a) a person shall be considered to be the holder of hazardous waste notwithstanding that he would, apart from this sub-paragraph, have ceased to be the holder through the waste having left his possession or control due to release; and

(b) a person shall not be considered to be the holder of hazardous waste notwithstanding that, apart from this sub-paragraph, he would be considered the holder due to the waste having coming into his possession or control due to release onto or into premises of which he is the occupier or of which he has possession or control.

Penalties

45.  Subject to regulation 43(2) and (3) and 44, a person who commits an offence under this regulation shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both.

Fixed penalties

46.—(1) Where an authorised person acting on behalf of the Department has reason to believe that a person has committed an offence under regulation 43(1) to which this regulation applies, he may give that person a notice offering him the opportunity of discharging any liability to conviction for that offence by payment of a fixed penalty.

(2) This regulation applies to an offence consisting of a failure to comply with any requirement of any of the following regulations—

(a) regulation 23 (standard procedure for consignment notes);

(b) regulation 26 (procedures for schedule of carriers);

(c) regulation 27 (procedures for carrier’s round).

(3) Where a person is given a notice under this regulation in respect of an offence—

(a) no proceedings shall be instituted for that offence before the expiration of twenty eight days following the date of the notice; and

(b) he shall not be convicted of that offence if he pays the fixed penalty before the expiration of that period.

(4) A notice under this regulation shall give such particulars of the circumstances alleged to constitute the offence as are necessary for giving reasonable information of the offence and shall state—

(a) the period during which, by virtue of paragraph (3), proceedings will not be taken for the offence;

(b) the amount of the fixed penalty; and

(c) the name of the person to whom and the address at which the fixed penalty may be paid; and, without prejudice to payment by any other method, payment of the fixed penalty may be made by pre-paying and posting to that person at that address a letter containing the amount of the penalty (in cash or otherwise).

(5) Where a letter is sent in accordance with paragraph (4) payment shall be regarded as having been made at the time at which that letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.

(6) A fixed penalty notice issued pursuant to this section shall be in the form set out in Schedule 9.

(7) The fixed penalty payable in pursuance of a notice under this regulation shall be £200.

(8) In any proceedings a certificate which—

(a) purports to be signed by or on behalf of the authorised officer of the Department;

(b) states that payment of a fixed penalty was or was not received by a date specified in the certificate,

shall be evidence of the facts stated.

PART 8 MISCELLANEOUS

Responsibilities of the Department

47.—(1) It is the duty of the Department to enforce these Regulations and to supervise the persons and activities subject to any provision of these Regulations.

(2) In preparing any waste strategy under Article 19 of the 1997 Order, and in modifying that strategy in accordance with Article 19(2), and in accordance with Article 7 of the Waste Directive and Article 6(1) of the Hazardous Waste Directive, the Department shall ensure that the content of the strategy under Article 19(3) addresses specifically plans for the management of hazardous waste, supported, as required by consultation and surveys under Article 19(4) and (5), and such plans shall be made public in such manner as appears to the Department to be appropriate.

Revocations, Consequential Amendments and Savings

48.—(1) The Special Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998(36) are hereby revoked.

(2) Schedule 10 (which makes consequential amendments to the 1997 Order in Part 1 and to secondary legislation in Part 2) has effect.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), the 1998 Regulations shall continue to have effect in relation to any hazardous waste in respect of which the consignment note (within the meaning of those Regulations) has been generated, in accordance with regulation 5 of those Regulations, before the coming into operation of these Regulations.

(4) In the event that a consignment of hazardous waste under a consignment note issued under the 1998 Regulations is refused or rejected by the consignee, and these Regulations have taken effect since the issue of that consignment note, notwithstanding paragraph (3) above, a new consignment note shall be issued in accordance with these Regulations.

(5) The requirements of Regulation 39(1) (“site records”) apply equally to records kept under the Special Waste Regulations 1998, notwithstanding paragraph (1) above.

(6) Consignment notes issued under the 1998 Regulations shall cease to have effect on 16th August 2005 and will not be valid for use on or after this date.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of the Environment on 20th June 2005.

L.S.

Ian Maye

A senior officer of the

Department of the Environment