environmental legislation powerpoint

PowerPoint 1: Handouts


Unit 302 (ELTK 02): Understanding environmental legislation, working practices and the principles of environmental technology systems


Environmental Protection ActThe Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) defines within Scotland, England and Wales the fundamental structure and authority for waste management and control of emissions into the environment.

Authorisation and enforcement was originally in the hands of the HM inspectorate of Pollution and Local Authorities. In 1996 this devolved to the Environmental Agency (EA) and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Part II covers the regulation and licensing of the acceptable disposal of controlled waste on land.

Controlled waste is defined as being any household, industrial and commercial waste.


Environmental Protection Act continued• There is a duty of care on importers, producers, carriers, keepers, treaters or

dispersers of controlled waste to prevent unauthorised or harmful activities.• Local Authorities have duties to collect controlled waste and to undertake

recycling.• Part IIa defines a scheme of identification and compulsory remedial action for

contaminated land.• Part IV covers litter.• Part VI covers risk assessment and notification for genetically modified

organisms.• The Act superseded the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act in respect of

controlling noxious emissions.


The Hazardous Waste Regulations

• With this set of Regulations the Government is working together with industry aims to reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated in the UK and the hazardousness of such waste.

• Hazardous waste poses particular risks to health and the environment so it is especially important that it is managed properly.

• Items on the list include a number of waste streams not previously considered to be hazardous, including televisions, computer monitors, fluorescent lighting and end-of-life vehicles.


Pollution Prevention and Control Act

• The Environmental Protection Act 1990 introduced a regime of controlling industries which emit significant levels of pollution to all environmental media (air, land and water).

• This has now been superceded by a new regime under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 introduced a regime of controlling industries which emit significant levels of pollution to all environmental media (air, land and water). This has now been superceded by a new regime under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999.

• Air Pollution: Covers air, asbestos, contaminated land, dust, light, noise, odour. Vehicle pollution, smoke, water pollution. This would obviously include burning rubbish and disposal of material in a way contrary to the act. Asbestos is covered elsewhere in this unit.


Pollution Prevention and Control Act continued• Bonfires: The rules on bonfires vary considerably around the country. In urban

areas under the clean air act they are generally banned and all rubbish must be disposed of via composting or the use of council tips, collections etc. In rural areas bonfires are permitted but obviously should not include polluting or toxic material such as plastic, paint and oils. Many materials should be composted or sent for recycling. There are items such as hardwood hedge trimmings which do not compost well or are poisonous. Many areas have an unofficial 6 o’clock watershed after which bonfires are allowed but provided they do not cause a nuisance or are too frequent then there is no general embargo.

• If you consider that the bonfire is a nuisance then first speak to the person who has lit the bonfire. They may not realise the problem they are causing. If it persists then contact the council who can issue an order preventing the lighting of the bonfire. If this is ignored the person can be fined.

• Smoke from a bonfire which drifts across a road so as to restrict driving visibility is illegal and the police can be involved.


The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations

• Electrical and electronic equipment is the fastest growing waste type in the UK. The attitude to the disposal of waste must change to enable more items to be recycled and to prevent landfills being polluted with heavy metals.

• The WEEE (Waste, Electrical and Electronic Equipment) regulations require that you can prove that you gave your WEEE to a waste management company and that they treated and disposed of it without harming the environment.

Common items covered include:• Computers and other office equipment• Fluorescent tubes• Fridges• Washing machines• TVs• Vending machines


The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations continued

• Manufacturers/wholesalers/distributors operate schemes where a premium is paid on the purchase price to cover the cost of disposal.

• If you manufacture or import goods you have extra responsibilities.• Local councils provide dedicated collection points for computers, televisions

etc. These must not be mixed with general waste.


The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS)

• Equipment is often thought of as bits of metal and plastic (both generally recyclable) but there is much more to it than that.

• Equipment may contain mercury (eg discharge lamps and cathode ray tubes), lead (eg solder) and other heavy metals, plus chemicals and toxic agents.

• There have recently been prosecutions for not disposing of waste in the correct way as required by the Regulations.


What equipment does RoHS cover?

The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) Regulations cover eight categories of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) which have a voltage of up to 1000 volts AC or 1500 volts DC:

1. large household appliances, such as fridges and cookers 2. small household appliances, such as irons and electric knives 3. IT and telecommunication equipment, such as computers, printers and

telephones 4. consumer equipment, such as radios, television sets and musical

instruments 5. some lighting equipment, including electric light bulbs and fluorescent lamps 6. electrical and electronic tools (except large stationary industrial tools), such

as electric drills and other power tools 7. toys, leisure and sports equipment, such as electric car racing sets and

video games 8. automatic dispensers, such as drink and food vending machines.


Building Regulations• Approved documents and compliance: • Part A: Structure• Part B: Fire safety• Part C: Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture• Part D: Toxic substances• Part E: Resistance to the passage of sound• Part F: Ventilation• Part G: Hygiene

Building Regulations and the Code for Sustainable Homes


Building Regulations and the Code for Sustainable Homes continued

• Part H: Drainage and waste disposal• Part J: Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems• Part K: Protection from falling, collision and impact• Part L: Conservation of fuel and power• Part M: Access to and use of buildings• Part N: Glazing safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning• Part P: Electrical safety: dwellings

The parts of the building regulations are listed above. Part L could be the main section to study. Try to find out more about these regulations using the Internet.


Code for Sustainable Homes

• Research the Code for Sustainable Homes. The energy saving trust website is a useful site to visit: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/

• You should consider the use of dedicated energy saving lamps, control of exterior lamps by PIR controls, limiting outside lamps to 150 watts, etc. When in a position to do so you should recommend the use of ‘A’ rated domestic appliances.


Reduce material wastage and impact on the environment

• All work activities have some impact on the environment. This starts at the extraction of the raw material, possible loss of wildlife species, transport, carbon emissions, manufacturing and disposal.

• Reducing wastage as an end user will help reduce the above but costs in wasted material as well.


Measurement and cable sizing• Material wastage can be reduced by careful measurement of cable runs. This

does not imply under measurement as there is nothing more annoying than installing a long cable run only to find it doesn’t quite reach the terminals!

• When materials were relatively cheap it was not unusual to see overlong lengths at sockets and switches which were simply cut off and discarded. Alternatively, lengths were left under floorboards which if still in circuit increased voltage drop and power loss.

• There has been a tendency over the years to install oversized cables ‘just in case’. This has resulted in 2.5mm2 being installed in lighting circuits instead of 1.5mm2 and 4mm2 instead of 2.5 mm2 for ring final circuits. There are other considerations of course but ‘guesstimating’, rather than estimating and accurate calculation leads to material wastage.


Storage and energy efficient devices

StorageThe safe storage of materials on site will reduce losses due to breakage and pilfering. Alternatively materials can be delivered ‘just in time’. This requires an efficient ordering system and close co-operation with a wholesaler so that materials are delivered on site just in time for them to be used.

Energy efficient devicesThere are two common areas apart from insulation etc. The use of energy efficient lamps is contained within the Code for Sustainable Homes. This requires that a given percentage should be compact fluorescent (now including LED ), the maximum rating for external lamps and the need for automatic control.Energy efficient white goods should be installed (‘A’ rated) and the use of low temperature washing cycles encouraged.


Recycling

• All operatives should be encouraged to recycle as much of the unused material on site that they can.

• This not only includes cables and accessories but also batteries and electrical and electronic equipment under WEEE.

• Chemicals, oils etc must be sent for proper disposal as must discharge lamps which contain harmful heavy metals.

environmental legislation powerpoint

Environment

air pollution

handouts pollution prevention

handouts powerpoint

water pollution

clean air act

waste management

commercial waste

environmental media