1. You must implement ELV acceptance procedures to check that the ELV received matches the information you obtained during pre-acceptance. This is to confirm that the waste is as expected and that you are permitted to accept it.
2. If not, you must confirm that you can accept it as a non-conforming waste, or you must reject it. If you are rejecting an undepolluted ELV, you must follow the guidance on the procedure for rejecting hazardous loads.
3. Your procedures should be documented and auditable and must follow a risk-based approach, considering the ELVs:
- source, nature, and age
- hazardous properties
- potential to contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
- potential risks to process or occupational safety, and to the environment (for example, from odour and other emissions)
- previous holders and your knowledge about them
4. If you have not received any pre-acceptance information, you must assess the load to make sure it is technically (and legally) suitable for the site. Your checks and assessment must be risk-based considering, for example, the:
- hazardous properties of the ELV
- risks posed by the ELV in terms of process safety, occupational safety, and environmental impact
Storage areas
5. All relevant storage areas (quarantine, reception and general) and treatment processes in your facility must have the physical capacity needed for the ELVs you receive. You must not receive ELVs if this capacity is not available. The amount of ELVs you receive must also comply with storage limits in your permit.
6. The ELV offloading, reception, treatment and quarantine areas must have impermeable surfaces with a sealed drainage system. This system must collect all surface water run?off and channel it to a blind sump unless you can lawfully discharge it in another way.
ELVs and treatment areas should be stored under cover to prevent ingress of rain and surface water.
You should keep clean surface water from roofs separate from contaminated waters.
7. You must clearly designate a materials reception area (or areas). Staff controlling the inspection, reception and validation of materials at the installation must be trained in their respective roles.
Waste acceptance
8. You must assess the weight of each load of ELVs on arrival to confirm the quantities against the accompanying paperwork. This is unless you have alternative reliable systems (for example, based on established data). You must record the weight in a suitable ELV tracking system.
9. You must check and validate all transfer documentation and resolve discrepancies before you accept the ELVs. If you believe the classification and description of the incoming ELVs is incorrect or incomplete, then you must address this with the customer during ELV acceptance. You must record any non-conformances. If you have assessed the ELVs as acceptable for on site storage or treatment, you must document this.
10. You must have clear criteria that you use to reject non-conforming ELVs. You must also have a written procedure for recording, reporting, and tracking non-conforming ELVs, including notifying the relevant customer or ELV producer to prevent reoccurrence.
Baling ELVs or components
11. If you are baling ELVs, you must make sure they are fully depolluted before baling.
Quarantine storage
12. You must establish quarantine areas for materials that are prohibited, awaiting full inspection, or awaiting testing or removal.
13. Quarantine storage must be for a maximum of 14 working days. For some limited and specific cases (for example, gas cylinders) you can extend the quarantine storage time if the Environment Agency agrees.
14. You must have written procedures for dealing with waste held in quarantine, and a maximum storage volume.
15. Quarantine storage must be separate from all other storage and clearly marked as a quarantine area.
16. You must identify and isolate gas cylinders and other prohibited items to remove them from the ELV stream. You must store gas cylinders in locked cages. Where possible, you must send prohibited items back to the appropriate owner.
