Update on waste management industry report

We’re almost there! Since teaming up with the Environment Agency (EA) both Active Research and The McOnie Agency have been finalising a new market report entitled: “Best Practice in Spill Prevention in the Waste Management Industry”.

The report objectives:

• To identify the key spill prevention issues within the waste management industry

• To understand best practice to spill prevention and containment

• To encourage more organisations to adopt best practice and improve their performance

Both the EA and BSIF want to encourage best practice because the industry is growing so quickly. Based on national data, in 2010, over 140,000 people worked directly in the sector. By 2020 this is set to increase to over 190,000 people handling and recycling waste. With more waste comes potentially more problems but by identifying and applying best practice now the industry can reduce future risks.

To get an understanding of the problem, the report sets out the common spill hazards and risks in waste management. The most common spills to the less frequent are identified. The report also outlines the spill prevention and containment measures currently employed.

The report findings are based on a number of interviews and focus groups with key industry figures and organisations. The findings are now being analysed with the aim of publicising the report in the Spring.

David Lummis, CEO of BSIF, said: “Both BSIF and EA believe the waste management sector will find this report useful as it clearly sets out the key elements of best practice and how they can be achieved by small and big companies handling and recycling waste.”