Managing hazardous substances

You have legal responsibilities for waste from the moment it is produced until it is recovered or disposed of. This is part of your duty of care for waste.

In Northern Ireland, most movements of hazardous waste must be accompanied by a consignment note. You must also pre-notify the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) at least 72 working hours in advance (and not more than one month before the movement), unless an exemption applies.

Work out whether your waste is hazardous by using the correct waste codes and an appropriate assessment. Safety data sheets can help you understand the substances involved, but you still need to classify the waste itself.

Examples of hazardous waste include:

• asbestos
• lead-acid batteries
• used engine oil and oil filters
• oily sludges and contaminated absorbents
• solvents and solvent-based wastes
• pesticide residues and containers
• fluorescent tubes and some other lamps
• contaminated packaging from hazardous products