Frequently Asked Questions

There are many activities that fall outside the HSE's areas of responsibility.   HSE's primary role is to protect those at work in waste and recycling activities and anyone who might be affected by that work eg members of the public.  Instead, they may be covered by powers held by other national or local government bodies.

Specifically for waste management and recycling examples would include:

Collection activities

It is the Local Authority who has responsibility for waste and recycling collections in a particular area. That service may be provided directly by the local authority itself or it may have contracted out the service to a specialist contractor. In either case the first point of contact for issues relating to the collection of your waste or recyclables should be the Local Authority.

Another useful source of information on waste and recycling services can be found at the Waste Resource Action Programme (WRAP) site.

Environmental and Public Nuisance issues

Local Authorities are empowered to deal with a wide range of issues that are not the responsibility of the HSE. Usually these matters (eg odour, noise, vermin infestation) are dealt with by the Local Authority's Environmental Health or Services Dept or on some cases the Environment Agency (or Scottish Environmental Protection Agency in Scotland).

• Environment Agency
• Scottish Environmental Protection Agency
• Local Authorities

Planning or permitting issues

HSE is not responsible for planning permissions for the siting of or permitting of waste and recycling facilities. Those aspects are dealt with by Environment Agency (or Scottish Environmental Protection Agency in Scotland) and the local authority in which the activity takes place.

• Environment Agency
• Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

Scrap metal dealer licences

HSE is not responsible for determining the suitability of applicants and issuing of scrap metal dealer licences. Local authorities have sole responsibility.

The Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) forum is a multi-party forum made up of organisations broadly representing the waste and recycling industry. WISH members include representatives from HSE, main trade associations, professional associations, trade unions, recycling organisations and national and local government bodies involved in waste management and recycling. Its purpose is to provide information, identify solutions and stimulate action across the industry to ensure the health, safety and well-being of those working in the industry and those affected by its activities.

In January 2009, the WISH forum launched its Charter and strategic objectives to improve performance in the industry over a four-year period (January 2009 to December 2013). The strategy has five key objectives:

• reducing accident numbers by 10% year on year over five years;
• reduction in the number of working days lost due to accident and ill health;
•  promotion of effective health and safety management;
•  improved safety culture and attitudes in the workforce; and
•  increase in the levels of competence.

Further information on WISH, it's members and the work it is currently undertaking can be found on the Waste Industry Safety and Health page.

Health hazards

The guide health hazards in the waste and recycling industry is associated with four main routes:

• skin contact, especially through cuts and abrasions or through contact with the eye's mucus membrane;
• injection through sharps injuries;
• ingestion through hand to mouth contact (commonly experienced when eating, drinking or smoking); and
• inhalation through the lungs.

Additional information on the source of the hazards, the risks they pose and reasonably practicable control measures that can be used to prevent or control exposure can be found on the occupational health page.

HSE is not the Enforcing Authority for issues relating to odours and  complaints should be referred to the appropriate Local Authority, Environmental Health Department or Environment Agency (or Scottish Environmental protection Agency (SEPA) in Scotland).

• Local Authority
• Environment Agency
• Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

Composted material may have a distinctive smell, depending on the feedstock, for example if it contains a large proportion of pine branches there will be the characteristic resin smell. The volatile chemicals responsible for smells are gases, which are smaller in size and lighter than particles of dust and bio aerosols (mould spores and bacterial cells in the air) behave like small particles of dust. Consequently, gases can travel further in the air than the heavier particles, which drop from the air under gravity. Some odorous gases can be smelled at extremely low concentration. Sometimes, if composting activities are poorly managed, the compost becomes 'anaerobic' (oxygen starved) which causes the bacteria in the compost to create different chemicals with unpleasant smells. In many cases, this can be avoided: if it occurs you should complain to the compost site or bring it to the attention of the local authority.

Bioaerosols, including those from compost, are like any other small dust particles in the air. They can move and be carried along in air currents before falling to the ground under gravity. If the wind direction and strength is known, it is possible to predict in what direction and how far a bioaerosol will travel away from the source of its release. As it is carried by air currents from that source, it will be dispersed and therefore diluted in concentration as it mixes with the surrounding air. Local conditions will affect this; for example, the warmth from a compost pile will make the bioaerosol rise higher in the air, and nearby buildings, trees, fences etc will also push the air current higher into the air, causing more mixing with the surrounding air and dilution of the bioaerosol.

Most published studies on compost bioaerosol exposure and health have focused on the exposure of workers on sites handling the material, because their exposure will be greatest. Some studies have looked at the effect of composting activities on surrounding bioaerosol concentrations. A limited number of studies have looked at the health of nearby residents. While it is recognised from these studies that under certain conditions composting activities nearby may raise bioaerosol concentrations above background levels, these concentrations are much lower than would occur on a composting site near to compost material being handled. There is no reported evidence of significant increase in ill health in residents near composting sites in these situations. The lungs of a healthy person are capable of being exposed to relatively large concentrations of micro-organisms without ill effect.

For more information on composting and recycling biodegradable waste can be found at:

Composting

Research

• RR130 - Occupational and environmental exposure to bioaerosols from composts and potential health effects - A critical review of published data
• RR786  Bioaerosol emissions from waste composting and the potential for workers' exposure

Background

Parts of the waste management and recycling industry have problems dealing with unwanted or unidentifiable ('orphaned') compressed gas cylinders that turn up in the waste stream. In addition, other cylinders such as fire extinguishers can contain small internal CO2 cylinders under high pressure.

Discarded cylinders which still contain containing compressed gases, (or which are apparently empty but in fact still contain some residual content) commonly appear in the waste stream, especially at civic amenity sites and metal recyclers.

Collection

The quantities of compressed gas cylinders on a civic amenity sites or metal recycling site should be kept as low as is reasonably practicable within the limits of the safe storage facilities that have been provided, and they should be collected on a regular basis (see below for details on collection). It may take quite some time for smaller civic amenity sites and metals recyclers to accumulate sufficient cylinders to require a collection.

The Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (LPGA) comprises all the major manufacturers and fillers of LPG in the UK, and sets standards for the industry. Currently, the LPGA coordinates a LPG cylinder retrieval scheme and arrangements are in place for the major national companies

Processing

Particular problems can arise when cylinders that are concealed within other metal waste is processed at metal recycling sites. Rupture of the cylinders within the fragmentisers or shredders can cause explosions. Sites should have suitable systems in place to remove, so far as reasonably practicable, all cylinders from the waste stream prior to reduce the potential of such incidents.  

Further information can be found at:

• British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA)
• British Compressed Gas association (BCGA)

LOLER applies to lifting equipment provided for use as work equipment. Lifting equipment comprises any machinery used for lifting and lowering loads, and includes any supports or anchoring fixtures. It also applies to lifting accessories, which are pieces of equipment used to attach the load to lifting equipment, thereby providing a link between the two.

LOLER requires lifting equipment and accessories to be marked with the Safe Working Load (SWL) and/or a Working Load Limit (WLL) and be subject to statutory periodic 'thorough examination'. Equipment capable of lifting people should be thoroughly examined every six months. Records must be kept of all thorough examinations and any defects found must be reported to the person responsible for the equipment. If the defect is (or could become) a danger to people, then the relevant enforcing authority must also be notified. In addition all work equipment will require maintenance under PUWER regardless of whether it needs a thorough examination under LOLER.

Examples of how and when LOLER thorough examinations applies to plant and equipment commonly used within the Waste and Recycling Industry include:

The training requirements for drivers of plant eg shovel loaders, excavators, fork lift trucks (FLTs), telehandlers etc. in a waste and recycling setting will be no different to other industry sectors (eg general manufacturing, construction and agriculture). Driver competence is judged on the basis of experience, recognised training (formal training – either deliver in-house or externally) and testing of knowledge and ability.

No-one should be allowed to drive (operate) a vehicle unless their employer has authorised them to do so in writing.  The employer should not authorise a driver unless the driver has received adequate training and the employer is satisfied that the driver is competent to operate the shovel loader.

Certificates of training from recognised training schemes help demonstrate competence. But employers are perfectly entitled to devise and operate their own in-house training schemes - this is especially the case with some larger companies.

While employers may operate their own in-house training schemes, they should have similar content to the more formal training courses that are available. Furthermore, they may find it useful to have the courses delivered by an Accredited Training Provider.

Further information on plant operator training and general training requirements can be found on the Waste and Recycling Training page.

'Offensive/hygiene' waste is produced by healthcare (medical care) practices or healthcare workers in the community and as well as that produced by domestic households from personal use. These wastes can be found in the municipal waste and recycling streams and they have the potential to cause ill health to workers handling them. Typical effects can be:

• skin/eye infections (eg conjunctivitis);
• gastroenteritis (symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting).

Offensive/hygiene wastes can include:

• human and animal waste (faeces), incontinence pads, catheter and stoma bags, nappies, sanitary waste, nasal secretions, sputum, condoms, urine, vomit and soiled human bedding from a noninfectious source;
• medical/veterinary items of disposable equipment such as gowns, plaster casts etc;
• plasters (minor first aid or self care) generated by personal use;
• animal hygiene wastes (animal bedding, dog faeces etc); and
• waste from non healthcare activities, for example wastes from body piercing or application of tattoos.

Offensive/hygiene waste should only be processed by licensed facilities capable of safe handling and disposal.

Other 'clinical' waste as defined under environmental legislation as 'hazardous healthcare wastes that is hazardous from its infectious nature or its medicinal or chemical properties' should be handled, transported, treated and disposed of as set out in guidance from the Environment Agency website and the Department of Health.

The selection and provision of hygiene facilities on collection vehicles should be risk based.

Employers are required to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of risk from exposure to hazardous substances (Regulation 6, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002). Factors to be considered include:

• the nature and type of materials being collected
• the potential level (low/medium/high) and frequency of contamination
• levels of containment (eg bags, wheelie bins, boxes)
• routes of exposure
• the location of collection activities (eg rural v urban)

Where it is not reasonably practicable to prevent exposure appropriate protection measures should be selected using the following hierarchy of control (Regulations 7(3) to 7(6), COSHH 2002).

• Adequate washing facilities ie wash basins with soap, warm/cold water provision and towels
• Hand wipes
• Hand gels

These control measures can be provided separately or in combination (and in conjunction with other measures, eg. provision of personal protective equipment).

Alternative control measures can be employed if it can be demonstrated they are the most effective and reliable control options.

Control of exposure will only be considered adequate if employers can demonstrate they have applied the principles of good practice (Regulation 7(7)(a) and Schedule 2A, COSHH 2002). For example:

• all relevant routes of exposure are considered
• measures are proportionate to the health risks
• most effective and reliable control options are chosen

The key is to develop a set of control measures that are effective, reliable, practicable and workable to control exposure adequately.

Employers should consider the efficacy, as well as pros and cons associated with use, of the measures selected to determine if exposure is adequately controlled.

Employers should be able to demonstrate the basis upon which they have selected the control options including appropriate hygiene measures.

Where fitted, hand wash basins should be maintained in good working condition.

Where provided, employers should ensure sufficient stocks of hand wipes and hand gels are available.

Emergency decontamination procedures and arrangements should be provided. For example, during collection activities if gross contamination occurs (eg from split bags, contact with animal and human waste, acids, alkalis etc) the provision of hand wipes and/or gels alone is unlikely to be sufficient. Where such circumstances are foreseeable, emergency arrangements should be provided, including for example, additional measures that will assist with cleaning (such as a readily available bulk supply of clean water; identification of locally available welfare facilities etc.).

Adequate information, instruction and training will need to be provided to employees. This will include information on how to use the controls provided, maintain good personal hygiene and deal with incidents of gross contamination.

Supervision and monitoring will be needed to ensure that the measures provided are properly used.

The provision of appropriate hygiene measures does not affect the need to provide other control measures, such as suitable personal protective equipment (PPE), including appropriate gloves etc.

Additional information

• COSHH web page
• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) Approved Code of Practice
• Waste and recycling vehicles in street collection
• Health and hazardous substances in waste and recycling
• Research on efficacy of hand cleaning products

Simple measures can help those who manage storage bin areas and collect bins, to reduce the risks of people being able to get into large commercial and communal domestic bins and being killed or injured.

What precautions you need depends on how foreseeable it is that people can gain access and get into the bins and how likely they are to be found if they have got in.

Factors increasing foreseeability include:

• the bin storage area:
  • being isolated and quiet
  • being dark and unlit, especially at collection times
  • being open and unsecured permitting easy access to the bins
  • making bin lids easy to reach by their position and/or leaving items to climb on
• the bins:
  • having lids that are not secured and easy to open
  • having large openings that are easy to get through
  • being stored for long periods un-emptied and un-disturbed
  • containing dry and comfortable type waste (paper, card, textile and other similar dry wastes are more likely to attract those seeking shelter)
• the environment:
  • rough sleepers, drug abusers, alcoholics and vagrants known to be in the area
  • known instances or people being found in the bins or in the storage area
  • periods of wet or cold weather (people are more likely to seek shelter, and for longer in these conditions)

Key issues to address are:

• reducing the likelihood of people getting into bins;
• checking there is nobody inside before emptying;
• stopping the compactor quickly as soon as employees realise someone has been tipped into the collection vehicle.

The types of bins involved are normally larger ones (typically 660 litres capacity and above with four wheels) used for commercial and communal domestic collections, euro carts, front-end loader containers, paladins and skips. Cases involving smaller wheelie bins (typically 120 litres with two wheels) are rare.

Waste bins sometimes have warning signs attached to them about the dangers of sheltering inside and/or reminders to check before emptying. These are useful (more so if pictures are used to overcome literacy and language difficulties), but are not required to achieve compliance with the law.

As a waste producers and/or businesses managing bin storage areas what do I need to do?

• where practicable, locate bins in a secure area;
• where there have been signs of people getting or trying to get into bins and it is reasonably foreseeable use bins most suitable to minimise risks, (eg with lid locks, lid-opening restrictors, fixed or lockable grilles or other access-restrictors);
• follow the supplier's instructions for bin security devices and ensure they used and  properly maintained;
• inform relevant employees about people getting into bins and the action required to prevent/minimise this;
• ensure employees watch out for and report any signs of people getting, or trying to get, into storage areas and especially into bins;
• ensure employees check bins regularly (see below), especially before a collection is due

As a waste collector what do I need to do? 

• ensure collection drivers and loaders are fully aware of the potential for people to be in bins
• inform drivers and loaders about checking the bins before emptying them, including what to do if a person is found (see below);
• ensure compactor stop switches are readily accessible, clearly marked and employees know where they are and how to use them;
• supervise employees to ensure the necessary actions are taken.

How should bins be checked for people inside?

• a quick visual check of the bin contents is enough. This can simply mean being aware of what waste should be there, looking for obvious signs of disturbance and checking for unexpected items, such as bags, blankets etc
• physically disturbing and rummaging around in the contents is not necessary and should be avoided.
• where bins are being emptied by front-end loaders, tapping/banging the bin on the floor using the lift mechanism is also recommended before emptying.

What should waste producers and other waste businesses concerned do if people are found in bins?

• give their relevant employees clear information and instructions on the risks and what to do if a person is discovered inside a bin (or collection vehicle). This should include:
  • how people are likely to behave, especially the potential for becoming aggressive and possibly violent (see advice in the Violence pages and in HSE's leaflet 'Violence at work: A guide for employers').
  • not to try restraining the person, especially if they attempt to escape;
  • how to help people get out of the bins or the vehicle;
  • how to report any incidents where people have been found in bins
• report any fatalities or serious injuries to people needing treatment in hospital in accordance with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013.

Other good practice measures that could be considered and taken, but are not necessary to achieve compliance with legal requirements, include:

• record brief details of all incidents involving people found getting into storage areas and/or bins (even if non-reportable under RIDDOR 2013);
• share this information with other relevant parties (eg between those producing and collecting the waste);

take the information into account when deciding whether the existing control measures are adequate and whether any improvements are needed.

Unsafe stacking of waste bales can result in them falling and/or stacks collapsing. The principles below are aimed at the stacking of bales of waste material such as paper, plastics, and metals. Some of the principles may also be relevant to non-baled waste materials that are routinely stacked "loosely" such as tyres.

Stack stability

The type of material being baled, as well as the shape, size, weight and density of bales, will all affect stack stability. Stack configurations and methods of stacking may differ considerably from one bale type to another.

Consider:

• the physical properties of the baled material (eg the size, weight, composition and density of the material and bale), and the effect it might have on the stability of any stack it may form part of, or be located close to;
• the effect, over time, that the baled material has (or is likely to have), on the configuration of other bales or stacks  (eg is the material likely to break up or compress further);
• the placing and removal of material in and around stacks and bale storage areas which may affect their continuing stability eg potential of stacks being struck by moving vehicles or from nearby materials being stored unsafely.

Stack stability may be improved by:

• positioning stacks on firm level ground, with a drainage slope of 1:80;
• stacking bales evenly;
• using pyramid constructions for stacks of single bales – with a wide base narrowing as it gets higher (see figure 1 below);
• constructing stacks to maximise stability eg by interlocking bales or by inserting boards between layers to improve rigidity;
• alternating layers, so that the lower supporting bales are stabilised by overlapping and interlocking upper bales;
• inserting lengths of timber at the outer edges of the stack, to give an inward lean on the outer faces;
• avoiding stacking single rows too high ( though actual heights will be dependent on material type and solidity of bales);
• surrounding stacks on 3 sides (small zones) then interlocking in the 4th direction (see figure 2 below);
• using fork lift truck protectors, (where there is a risk of stacks being hit by vehicles);
• leaving gaps between stacks and walls, unless the wall has been built to withstand the force of the stack leaning against it;
• providing a safe system of work for the re-stacking of bales where the existing stack has a sheer or unstable face, following the placing or removal of adjacent material.

Figure 1: Example of stacking pattern

Figure 2: Interlocking bales surrounded on 3 sides

The stability of bale stacks may also be affected by:

• water absorption (especially paper and card bales stored outside);
• rusting of wires and straps, if bales are left outside for long periods of time;
• poorly produced bales, (which should be identified for re-baling and not stacked).

Reducing other risks

The risk of being struck by falling bale(s), or the collapse or unintended movement of a stack can be reduced by:

• segregating pedestrians, pedestrian routes and foot paths from stacks and storage areas;
• routinely checking the condition of stacked bales (especially after periods of adverse weather (if stored outside) or if they have suffered impact damage);
• devising a safe system of work for the removal of bales, (if one should become damaged or falls);
• where potentially unsafe stacks are identified, measures should be put in place to prevent pedestrians from approaching them on foot until they are made safe.
• assessing and implementing the use of vehicle protective systems (eg falling object protection systems (FOPS)) as a form of protection for operators dismantling unstable stacks or storage areas.

Training and instruction

All operators, team leaders and managers involved with the stacking and storage of bales, (or who may use the areas where bales are stacked and stored), should receive suitable information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure that reasonably practicable precautions that have been identified are implemented and maintained effectively.

Further Guidance

• HSG 76 - Warehousing and storage: A guide to health and safety
• Safe working with bales in agriculture
• Bales and Bale handling in the textile industry

Handling two full/partially full wheelie bins can increase the risk of injury* because:

• more effort is required to move them and it is likely that they will not be equally loaded
• tilting the bins one handed when starting to move them is more difficult
• more space is needed to manoeuvre two bins
• the operative has less control due to only having one hand on each bin, especially when going up and down kerbs
• shoulder and upper limb postures are more awkward
• there will be increased forces on the shoulders and arms from the twisting actions needed to manoeuvre two bins at once

Handling two wheelie bins should only be allowed if the following have been considered:

• Size of bins (90 litres to 240 litres) in use. Bins larger than 240 litres should not be handled in pairs
• Likely load in the bin/nature of the contents (eg residual, recycling, green waste)
• Are the bins full or partially full?
• Are the bins equally loaded?
• Are the two bins of the same size?
• Capabilities of individuals
• Type of terrain (eg hard/uneven/steep/kerbs)
• Distances over which the bins are to be manoeuvred
• Is there sufficient room to manoeuvre two bins?
• Weather conditions
• Road related risks - potentially less awareness of environmental and traffic related issues as handling of two bins requires greater thought/concentration and time

If an employer decides that there are circumstances where handling two bins can be permitted, the locations or types of properties and capacity of bins where this is permitted/not permitted will need to be specified.

Loaders should follow their training and the safe systems of work for handling wheelie bins. If they choose to handle two bins at once they should also consider the above factors, if they can work within their capacity and do not create additional risks. If in doubt, they should make separate trips with each bin.

Handling bins once they have been emptied is easier, so handling two empty bins may be acceptable due to the significantly lower weight.

*There may be other reasons why handling two wheelie bins together rather than one at a time (eg due to potential damage to property and the bins) which may influence the decision as to whether this practice can be permitted.