ENVIRONMENTAL CODE OF PRACTICE
Management of Marine Industry Waste
This section reviews the management and disposal of some of the
wastes that are commonly produced by the marine industry.
Batteries
Lead acid and nickel cadmium batteries can be
recycled. The lead within lead acid batteries can be recycled at a
scrap metal yard and this practice is already commonplace in the
marine industry. Collection schemes for lead acid batteries are
well established and schemes for nickel cadmium are being
developed. Contact your local Environment Agency and ask for
details of battery collection points in your area. Alternatively,
ask your supplier if they will take back spent batteries for
reprocessing.
Batteries can do significant environmental
damage if they leak or come into contact with controlled waters
such as the Harbour. They should be kept in a secure store which
prevents them from leaking. Batteries are considered special waste
and should be disposed of accordingly (see above). Look at where
your company is using batteries and assess if this is really
necessary – could you use the mains supply instead or use
rechargeable batteries if you are not already doing so? Further
information on battery recycling can be obtained from the British
Battery Manufacturers Association.
Battery producers and retailers are to become
responsible for battery recycling as new rules came into force on
the 5th
May 2009. Click here to see
the ECOP guidance on the EU Batteries Directive.
Drums and containers
Waste drums and containers may still pose a
threat to the environment even when empty. The type of substance
which was in the drum or container will dictate the disposal method
required. In some cases the drums and containers will remain
hazardous when empty regardless of how well they have been cleaned.
A case by case assessment should be made referring to the following
examples for assistance:
1. Containers that have been thoroughly
dried and emptied. If the maximum amount of material has been
removed by physical or mechanical means (draining/scraping) to
leave residue that can not be removed, it could be considered under
the European Waste Catalogue (EWC) entry as: packaging
containing residues of or contaminated by dangerous
substances. This is a mirror entry (may be hazardous or not
depending on appropriate assessment) and will only be hazardous if
dangerous substances are present above a threshold concentration.
This must be determined on the basis of the chemical(s) in the
container and whether the weight of this, plus the weight of the
container, exceeds the dangerous substance threshold for the
chemical(s) in question.
2. Containers that have been cleaned and
rinsed with clean water or cleaning agent. If cleaning
has been undertaken to ensure that the container is not
contaminated with dangerous substances then it would be classified
on the EWC as non hazardous packaging
3. Containers that contain hardened
product, e.g. fibreglass. If the packaging contains material
that can be removed by physical or mechanical means but has not
been, it should be considered as process waste and the appropriate
entry from the EWC used. Mirror entries will only be
hazardous if dangerous substances are present above a threshold
concentration relevant to the chemical(s) within the container.
Note that in this instance the weight of the container packaging
should not be considered when assessing the waste against the
threshold limits.
Please refer to section on Hazardous Waste Management as incorrect disposal
could lead to prosecution.
Electrical goods
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Directive covers all electrical goods such as sports equipment, IT
and telecommunications equipment and electrical and electronic
tools.
- Private householders will be able to take
their WEEE to collection facilities free of charge
- Producers (manufacturers, sellers,
distributors) will be responsible for financing the collection,
treatment, recovery and disposal of WEEE from private households
deposited at these collection facilities
Producers will be responsible for financing
the collection, treatment, recovery from users other than private
householders from products placed on the market BMF will update
members throughout the implementation process through the
website.
The DTI is the lead authority and guidance
will be issued on their website.
End of life craft & GRP hulls
The disposal of life-expired craft is
currently the responsibility of the boat owner. However, it is
often the marina or boatyard operator who is asked to dispose of
the craft on behalf of the owner. The most appropriate disposal
method will depend on the type and nature of craft and operators
should try to have in place a procedure to deal with the disposal
of such craft. When deciding what these procedures should be for
your particular site, try to observe the following:
- Remember that old and discarded craft are
often an eyesore and will detract from the appearance of your
site
- Wherever possible look for alternative uses
for the whole craft or its constituent parts. Could the scrap metal
be recycled? Could you reuse old timbers on your premises or is
there a second-hand market for internal fittings and fixtures?
- The scuttling or burning of craft should be
avoided at all costs. However, if incineration is unavoidable and
other disposal options are inappropriate, it must be carried out
with the permission of the appropriate authorities (Local
Authority/environmental agencies) under controlled conditions. It
is possible to recycle GRP hulls, but the technology is expensive
and not widely available at present
Fire extinguishers
For disposal of fire extinguishers contact
your local authority or for halon disposal, your local authority
(County Council Waste Management Team) or HUNC Halon User National
Consortium. For more information click here http://www.hunc.org/
Flares (Time Expired Pyrotechnics)
Out of date flares should be disposed of
responsibly. They should not be kept and used as additional
fireworks on special occasions. chandleries, harbour masters and
marinas are no longer able to accept flares from responsible owners
wishing to dispose of them safely. It may be possible to dispose of
old flares at a Coastguard Station but large quantities in one
delivery should be avoided.
Fluorescent tubes
Fluorescent lights contain highly toxic heavy
metals, in particular mercury, cadmium and lead. Fluorescent
tubes should be disposed of as hazardous waste. There are
specialist companies who will remove fluorescent tubes and recycle
them.
Metal offcuts
Scrap metal should be reused or recycled where
it is viable to do so. Metal filings and dust should be collected
and contained, for example in a hopper. You should then investigate
whether or not this scrap can be recycled in your area. If not, a
licensed contractor should dispose of it.
The British Metals Recycling Federation
provides information on processes and merchants dealing in both
ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Further information can be found on
their website.
Metalworking fluids
These fluids should be disposed of as
hazardous/ special waste because of their oil and chemical additive
content. Such materials may be able to be recycled at an
appropriately licensed facility. Ask your suppliers, local
authority recycling officer or local branch of your environmental
agency for advice.
Oil and oily waste
Used oil can be recycled as long as it is not
mixed with other substances, such as paints or solvents and care
should be taken not to mix oil. Collection facilities should be
carefully marked so that oil does not become contaminated, and boat
users should be made aware that they should not mix used oil with
other substances.
Waste oils are likely to be classed as
hazardous and special waste, and so should be disposed of
appropriately (see above), giving due consideration to the Duty of
Care and consignment note system. Visit
www.oilbankline.org.uk for information on oil bank
locations and waste oil collection companies. A guidance note on
the safe storage and disposal of used oils is available
(PPG8).
Paper
The manufacturing of paper from waste paper
rather than virgin pulp uses significantly less energy, water and
raw materials. This helps to prevent pollution and conserve scarce
natural resources. The main types of waste paper that can be
recycled are:
- computer print-out paper
- office white paper (including copier and
laser printer paper)
- newspapers, magazines and pamphlets
- cardboard
- mixed or coloured paper.
Larger quantities of paper and card can often
be disposed of through your waste management contractor, who may
run a commercial recycling service. You will have to separate your
waste and pay a charge for this service, but this may mean that you
significantly cut down on the number of times your general waste
bins are emptied so the cost implications are often negligible.
Plastics, glass and cans
Plastics, glass and cans from food and
beverage packaging and office goods packaging may all be recycled.
Set up central collection points for plastics and glass in your
office and encourage staff to dispose of these materials (clean and
dry) at this point. Community organisations may collect aluminium
cans for fundraising purposes.
The feasibility of recycling of plastics for
post consumer wastes depends on the levels of contaminants in the
waste, the proportion of polymers and the possible end markets. It
is possible to recycle plastics such as polyethylene film,
polypropylene, PVC, polystyrene and ABS. For further information
see the British Plastics Federation website.
Spent solvents and antifreeze
Solvents are an expensive raw material with
high disposal costs as hazardous waste. Wherever possible, you
should try to minimise solvent use and reuse or recycle it. All
solvent storage containers should be fitted with lids to prevent
water contamination and to minimise evaporative losses. For
companies using large quantities of solvent (more than 8 gallons/36
litres per day) a distillation recycling system may prove
economically viable. Alternatively, contact your supplier, local
branch of the Environment Agency/SEPA or local authority recycling
officer for details about the availability of off-site recycling
exchanges in you area.
Organic solvents
Possible actions to reduce the potential
impact of organic solvents include:
- Assess feasibility of using alternative
adhesive materials such as water based latexes and emulsions
- Consider alternative bonding techniques used
by other sectors, including the hot melting of plastics and curing
of acrylic, polyester and urethane resins by irradiation with UV,
IR light or electron beams
- When using solvent based adhesives make sure
they are stored in covered containers even at point of use
Toner cartridges
Over two million non-biodegradable toner
cartridges (from laser printers, photocopiers and fax machines) are
thrown away in the UK each year. A growing number of companies now
sell cartridges that have been re-cycled or are refillable.
Wood
Wood wastes that can be recycled include
softwood, off-cuts, wood packaging, boarding, fencing (untreated),
and clean demolition timber. The wood wastes are cleaned and
treated to remove contaminants, and can be used in the following
ways:
- Surfacing products: Old wood products can be
processed to become protective and decorative surfacing products. A
growing market for surface products made from wood waste is
equestrian arenas, paddocks and gallops for training horses.
- Mulch Products: Wood waste can be used to
make mulch. Mulch can be used in landscaping to prevent erosion,
control weeds, prevent moisture loss in soil, and provide essential
nutrients to the soil.
- Panel board products: The panel board
industry is currently the major user of recycled wood waste in the
UK. In 2001 675,000 tonnes of wood waste was used to make panel
board. The government is currently reviewing the potential of
using wood for energy recovery.
Zinc sacrificial anodes
Zinc is toxic to plant life but has relatively
low toxicity to animals and humans. Waste zinc should preferably be
sent for recycling, or disposed of as hazardous waste.