Concept Of Waste Management In Great Britain

1. Waste management:

Great Britain generates approximately a 290million tonnes waste in 2008 while the amount is decreasing by the time. According to Waste Atlas Platform, 3.0 billion tonnes solid waste was generated during 2012.

The National Strategy for the Waste is a policy from the government, and in specially the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs(Defra), intended to encourage a move to sustainability in managing waste and recycling and recovery sector within Great Britain.

In 1993, around 1.4 Billion tons of waste was produced in Scotland. Toxic waste and controlled waste being 100,000 tons 260,000 tons respectively from other parts of Britain and abroad. A special type of waste in liquid form which is about 45% and 18% was asbestos – radioactive waste was not mentioned. Controlled waste include, waste from the demolition of building was 48%, 22 percent industrial waste, 17 percent and 13 % from house hold and business respectively and only 3% of the waste were recycled.

About 2 million tons of methane gas was produced due to waste buried in landfilled site which is 90 percent. In Scotland, there are 900 disposal sites.

In the north east of Scotland there are very few off land sites, as few other which are traditional heavy industries or coal/mineral extraction sites. However aromatic hydrocarbons are contaminated in some areas (500.25 cubic meters)

2. Health and safety in waste management sector

In the waste industry, it is intended that about 160,000 employees are employed. The employment sector is driven by legislation and regulation, much derived from European Directives. Annually 4,000 accidents were reported in the industry of waste management. About 45 percent of accidents were reported by private companies while 50 % were of the authorities working in locally.

In the field of waste management, the overall rate of accidents is about 2,500 per 100,000 employees (nearly five times the national rate). One of the common accidents are over three-day injury. Mostly accidents accruing in workplace is struck by a waste collection vehicle or a car. (HSE, 2004)

3. World Health Organization (WHO)

All aspects of health and safety of employment sector and mainly concentration on basic protection of risks were deal by occupational health. Also, a state of complete mental, physical and social well-being and not only the absence of infirmity. Occupational health is a multidisciplinary field of healthcare concerned with enabling an individual to undertake their occupation, in such a way that makes least effect to individuals health. Health has also been defined as It differs, for example, in employment sector advertising health and safety, in relation to protect harm against any accidental risk, created in workplace.

Since 1950, occupational health have been defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) commonly. In the first session of Occupational Health in 1950 as well as in twelfth session 1995 ILO and WHO both organizations adopted.

‘ Occupational health primary focus on three different objectives:

1. promoting the health and Safety of worker and maintaining work capacity;
2. Developing a culture in workplace which provide the health and safety,
3. Creates such working organization and work ethics on the basis which matches health and safety at employment sector as well as produce and promote better working environment and smooth operation which boost productivity of the undertakings. The dimension of working culture is intended in this context to mean a reflection of the crucial systems adopted by the undertaking concerned. Such a culture is reflected in practice in the managerial systems, personnel policy, principles for participation, training and guidance policies and quality management of the undertaking. (‘ Joint ILO/WHO Committee on Occupational Health”)
4. Protection and safeguard for worker in waste management

4. Duty of care

In the sector waste management chain, the statutory duty of care applies on every individual. Which needs primary producers and others who are involved in the waste management to work against its escape, and to take all fair steps to ensure that the waste is dealt with suitably from initial to the final and end product. (Anon., 1996)

It is essential step and requirement for the processor to write description, also describe the quantity and quality of waste, to accompany the waste as it is moved from point of production to its managing point. The main responsibilities are described as:

• accurately and fully describe the waste
• complete and sign a waste transfer note (or consignment note for radioactive waste) prior to waste being transferred to another party
• with the carriage regulations packing the waste securely where applicable
• waste store on-site securely
• If carrier registration is required register as a waste carrier and on waste carriers makes sure all the checks
• develop better and proper handling and disposal method

(Environmental Protection (EPA) Act2 sect 34), (The Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations (England, Scotland and Wales)

(The Controlled Waste (Duty of Care) Regulations (Northern Ireland))

5. WISH 2013-2015

Actions to be taken forward by WISH strategy goal working groups in 2013 – 2015

A. Strategy goal: Strong Leadership

1. Develop such a policy and strategy which ensures and describes the safety leadership
2. For managing the waste and recycling makes surely safety leadership standards
3. across the industry advertise better information on safety leadership schemes (for example case studies)
4. current training/competency schemes must contain safety leadership
5. make sure and analyse how safety leadership could be.
6. research and compared what other companies have done on safety leadership.

B. Strategy goal for the workforce

1. Investigate the potential for WISH to raise its profile by having a stand-alone website.
2. Develop and publish case studies demonstrating effective worker engagement from examples of best practice in the waste management.
3. Develop and publish sharable training materials for promoting and enhancing worker engagement.
4. Develop, demonstrate and promote the business case for the benefits of worker engagement.
5. Develop a network of interested parties for the conversation and sharing of development of worker engagement initiatives.
6. Investigate what other industries have done.

C. Strategy goal: Build competence

1. Definitions to be developed for competence, skills and training. This will include developing and publishing guidance on how ‘competence’ can be defined and understood in the context of the waste and recycling industry.
2. Develop and publish case studies and real-life examples of the positive impact of improved workforce competence, including examples of industry best practice and the potential business benefits.
3. Identify and share best practice on competence schemes across the industry and in other sectors (e.g., through the case studies and examples)
4. Investigate how relationships with customers can influence the need for improved competence and can have a positive impact on the operating culture within a business.

D. Strategy goal: Creating healthier, safer workplaces

1. Communication of best practice sharing and problem solving.
2. Develop guidance and support on Health surveillance (monitoring/screening)
3. Consider and give guidance on the health, safety and welfare aspects of technological developments
4. Develop and agree industry guidance and standards on specific health and safety topics and for specific parts of the industry

E. Strategy goal: Support SMEs

1. Develop and publish guidance or possibly a scheme aimed specifically at waste sector SME’s who wish to evaluate or validate their performance against the requirements of HSG.
2. Develop and publish simple guidance on what a safety system is and separate guidance upon the use of self-assessment checklist(s) in evaluating the effectiveness of safety systems.
3. Develop and publish guidance on the waste sector specific information which are available for SME’s
4. Investigate and identify any deficiencies, or areas in need of development, in the availability of guidance and similar resources for waste sector SME’s
5. Investigate and develop methods to communicate with waste sector SME’s.