MVDA

MVDA

Monday 11 August 2014

Award winning shredder residue project

The new European Metal Recycling & Chinook Sciences Oldbury End Stage Recycling Plant recently won a MRW award for Best Energy-From-Waste Initiative.
The two companies partnered to develop a world-leading recycling and energy-from-waste plant, currently being commissioned in Oldbury, West Midlands, which will process 180,000 tonnes a year of shredder residue, recovering up to 10,000 tonnes of previously landfilled metal.  Plus, it will generate up to 40MW of electricity, of which up to 32MW will be exported to the grid.
Chinook’s active pyrolysis technology can process any feedstock with organic content from contaminated aluminium scrap to municipal, commercial or industrial waste, and processes heavily contaminated scrap metal without the need to pre-process.
The process then recovers valuable ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as glass and other inerts. Metals recovered are in a clean form, ready for recycling or onward sale.
The process typically requires only the residues from the air pollution control requiring disposal, so allowing for maximum landfill diversion.
Chinook’s technology and processes also allow it to clean and purify the syngas, turning it into a clean fuel. This can be fed into power generating options including combined steam turbines or gas engines.
The plant which has a negative carbon footprint of more than 57,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent a year, is the first of three being developed by the Innovative Environmental Solutions joint venture, of which Chinook is the majority partner.
An estimated one million tonnes of ASR (and the metal within it) ends up in landfill each year. Chinook’s plants would have the capability to process most of this, using its Rodecs system of advanced thermal treatment technology for metal recycling and renewable energy generation.  This technology was developed by Chinook in 1999, and is now in its ninth generation.
Motor Vehicle Dismantlers Association of Great Britain Office 5, Top Floor,
Charrington House, 17A Market St, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6JX, UK.
Email: info@mvda.org.uk
Tel: (01543) 254 254
Fax: (01543) 254 274 

Introduction of new petroleum regulations

On 1 October 2014 the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 are due to come into force.
As with existing petrol storage legislation, they apply to:
  • workplaces that store petrol and dispense it through manual or electrical pumping from a storage tank (termed petrol filling stations, retail & non-retail);
  • storage of petrol at non-workplace premises, eg private homes, clubs, associations, etc.
The Regulations consolidate much of the existing legislation and the current legislation below will be revoked, so there is little overall change.  The current licensing regime is being replaced with a certification scheme.  So to store petrol at a petrol filling station (see above) a petroleum storage certificate will be required.
For new applicants, the application process will be similar to the current system for licences and applications will be to the local Petroleum Enforcement (licensing) Authority.  But it is likely that a greater level of detail will be required during the application/ renewal process.  This will include drawings of the:
  • layout of the dispensing premises;
  • containment system for petrol at the dispensing premises, including storage tanks and pipe work;
  • drainage system for petrol at the dispensing premises.
Under the new Regulations, existing licences remain valid until their expiry date when, if the storage conditions remain unaltered, they will be converted to a storage certificate.  If a significant change (referred to in the new Regulations as a ‘prescribed material change’) takes place at premises before the licence expiry date then a storage certificate will be required at that point to replace the licence.
This means there will be a phased introduction of storage certificates for existing sites.  So, for the vast majority of petrol filling stations no action is required on implementation of the new Regulations in October.
There will be no change in the level of fees.

Motor Vehicle Dismantlers Association of Great Britain Office 5, Top Floor,
Charrington House, 17A Market St, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6JX, UK.
Email: info@mvda.org.uk
Tel: (01543) 254 254
Fax: (01543) 254 274 

Thursday 7 August 2014

Preventing illegal waste exports

Recent advice has been given by the Environment Agency about the illegal export of waste and forthcoming action against those who continue to export waste.
End of Life Vehicles that have been depolluted are classified as ‘green’ waste, and the detail below is relevant to all who are exporting vehicles to the European Union.

The Environment Agency is the Competent Authority for England for regulating waste shipments in accordance with the European Waste Shipments Regulations EC1013/2006 (WSR) and the UK Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 (TFS).
The Environment Agency have launched an awareness campaign which will run over the next three months. This campaign aims to warn exporters of the need to check that the destination can lawfully receive their shipment, that a proper contract is in place with a recovery facility and that the Annex VII forms are in place and correctly completed. This campaign will serve as a reminder to legitimate business and also a warning to those who are currently operating at the edge of legality. 

From October 2014 the Environment Agency will start to issue Fixed Penalty Notices where compliance with the TFS Regulations has not been met.
Ultimately, every shipment should be accompanied by an Annex VII form which is fully completed. It should contain details of the consignee and be supported by a valid contract between the person arranging the shipment and consignee. The aim is to improve industry compliance with the law and become more aware of rogue operators and those who are trying to cut corners and transport waste illegally.  

The main rules have been explained and the note (below) is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis of the current legislation; if you do require more detail you should seek independent legal advice.
Please ensure that your Green List shipments of waste are fully compliant with the law. For further guidance on how to complete an Annex VII form, visit  https://www.gov.uk/importing-and-exporting-waste#import-or-export-article-18-controls.
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ACT NOW TO HELP US PREVENT ILLEGAL WASTE EXPORTS!
MAKE SURE YOUR GREEN LIST WASTE SHIPMENTS HAVE A COMPLETED ANNEX VII
The Environment Agency is the Competent Authority for England for regulating waste shipments in accordance with the European Waste Shipments Regulations EC 1013/2006 (WSR) and the UK Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 (TFS).
Everyone involved in a shipment of waste (eg. producer/collector/exporter/broker/importer) may be liable under the WSR and has a responsibility to ensure that the shipment is lawful. The export of Green List waste listed in Annex III, IIIA or IIIB of the WSR is regulated by Article 18 of the WSR, and you must check that you are compliant with it (see below).
What do you need to do?
  • Green List waste must be accompanied by an Annex VII form. Checks must be made to ensure that this happens.
  • If you are the person arranging the shipment, you must ensure that the Annex VII form is completed, prior to the shipment taking place. You must also sign the declaration on the form certifying that all the information contained in the Annex VII is complete and correct and that you have an effective written contract with the importer/consignee.
  • The Annex VII form must be fully completed in order to provide relevant details of everyone involved in the shipment and an auditable trail for the shipment of waste from its starting point in the country of dispatch through to its recovery operation in the country of destination.

The Annex VII form must then be signed by the consignee and the recovery facility when the waste shipment is received. All three signatories must keep a copy of the document for at least 3 years from the date the shipment started.
What will happen if you do not comply?
It is a criminal offence to export Green List waste other than in accordance with a fully completed Annex VII form or without a valid contract in place. Such offending shows a failure of duty of care and creates an uneven playing field for those who make the effort to comply with the law.
The Environment Agency will take appropriate enforcement action (including the use of Fixed Penalty Notices) against such offences. Persistent offenders, or those engaging in fraud or misdescription, will be subject to more serious enforcement action, including prosecution.
Can you leave gaps in the Annex VII form because of commercial confidentiality?
The European Court of Justice has ruled1 that the Annex VII form must be fully complete and the requirements of Article 18 of the WSR are more important than a right to the protection of business secrets or commercial confidentiality. Therefore all relevant details must be filled in.
The Environment Agency may ask to see any Annex VII form (or the information it contains) and any Article 18 contract for inspection, enforcement, planning and statistical purposes.
When does Article 18 WSR apply?
Article 18 controls generally apply to waste listed in annex III, IIIA, or IIIB of the WSR. Such waste is known as Green List, destined for recovery in the EU, OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and non-OECD countries. However, you must check for any further restrictions, higher level of control or even prohibition for your country of destination and any countries of transit. A list of OECD countries, Competent Authorities and the level of controls can be found at
What is an Article 18 contract?
Article 18(2) requires a valid written contract between the person who arranges the shipment and the consignee for recovery. The contract must include an obligation, where the shipment of waste or its recovery cannot be completed or the shipment is illegal, on the person who arranges the shipment or (if they cannot) the importer/consignee to take the waste back or ensure its recovery in an alternative way. They must also, if necessary, arrange to store the waste in the meantime.
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Members involved in the export of 'used parts' should refer to the EA guidance on export of used car parts (can be downloaded from the members section of the MVDA website).

Motor Vehicle Dismantlers Association of Great Britain Office 5, Top Floor,
Charrington House, 17A Market St, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6JX, UK.
Email: info@mvda.org.uk
Tel: (01543) 254 254
Fax: (01543) 254 274