The Haz Guide

This document provides good practice guidance for all organisations involved in the collection and management of household hazardous type waste from households and businesses producing small quantities of waste (these terms are described in the box below). The guidance has been produced by Resource Futures with advice from a Working Group, on behalf of the National Household Hazardous Waste Forum (NHHWF) and the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM). The guidance replaces and updates the 2005 NHHWF and CIWM Haz Guide. Before reading the guidance there are a number of points that need to be clarified:

The NHHWF and CIWM established a working group to advise on updating and revising the 2005 Haz Guide, to incorporate advice for small businesses and those handling wastes from small businesses. However, the Guide is still relevant to local authorities and contractors managing household waste at HWRCs. The working group comprised representatives of local authorities, regulatory agencies, waste management operators and other interested stakeholders. For a full list of members of the working group and associated contributors, see the acknowledgements section.

HHW has been defined by the NHHWF as:
“any material discarded by a household, which is difficult to dispose of, or which puts human health or the environment at risk because of its chemical or biological nature.”

With regard to businesses, household hazardous type waste is:
“any material produced and discarded by a business that is of a similar quantity and nature to that produced by a household, which is difficult to dispose of, or which puts human health or the environment at risk because of its chemical or biological nature”.

The NHHWF definition does not include all hazardous wastes produced by any business. The waste streams of concern to the NHHWF are those generated primarily but not exclusively by a small business, that are similar in nature and quantity to those that may be produced in a household, for which it is difficult for a business to dispose of because of the hazardous nature and low quantity.
Legally, all waste that is defined as hazardous by the List of Waste Regulations (England) 2005, or equivalent legislation in Northern Ireland, Scotland (1) or Wales, is hazardous. The NHHWF definition and legal definitions overlap to a great extent, but the wider NHHWF definition includes some substances that are not defined as hazardous by statute. These substances are included because they are difficult to dispose of, or have the potential to cause mess or nuisance. See the what is HHW? section for further information.

HHW has historically represented less than 1% of the household waste stream; however, it requires specialised attention and treatment by virtue of its nature. The Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005, which came into effect in July 2005, define further categories of waste as hazardous (e.g. fridges and freezers containing ozone-depleting substances, fluorescent lighting tubes and televisions and computer monitors containing cathode ray tubes). In addition, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and the Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries and Accumulators Directive means there are practical implications for collection and management of HH (Household Hazardous) type waste from households and businesses. Further information can be found in the legislation and good practice sections. As a result of regulations and as more recycling of both the domestic and business waste streams occurs, the residual waste fraction may contain a greater concentration of hazardous waste, presenting problems to end users, local authorities and those managing this waste stream.

HH type waste in the municipal waste stream can have a number of detrimental health and safety effects, as well as potential negative impacts on the environment. HH type waste includes many paints and other coatings, garden chemicals, petcare products, motoring products, “household” chemicals and electrical appliances. The problems that can occur when HH type waste is disposed of in the municipal waste stream include:

This Guide is designed to provide all organisations involved in the production, collection and management of HH type waste with the information necessary to:

(1) It should be noted that the guidance takes account of legislation in England and there may be differences in the Devolved Administrations. However, the best practice guidance and case study material is relevant throughout the UK. Visit the Devolved Administrations page for specific information.