1. End of Waste: Supporting quality & sustainability? Roger Hoare Environment & Business Manager Environment Agency (England & Wales) 24 January 2013

2. What do we mean by ‘End of Waste’? To achieve end of waste for a waste derived product and remove the need for regulatory control it must be: - a distinct, marketable product; - able to be used in exactly the same way as an ordinary material; and - used with no worse environmental impact than the material it replaces.

3. Opportunity End of Waste Market advantage Difficult Commercial sensitivity Saves money Confusing Time consuming Complex Increase sales Risk to environment Sustainability Environmental benefits

4. Background – Issues and options 1996 2006 2008 Disputes between regulators and industry – Waste v Product Waste Protocols Programme 2006-2011 2012 2010 Legal challenges over waste status Barriers to recycling such as waste stigma Pollution incidents from waste products

5. The Waste Protocols Programme Industry

6. What does a Protocol achieve? Waste Treatment Acceptance: Duty of Care / Hazardous Waste Treatment: Environmental Permit / Exemption / Low Risk Position Movement from Site Duty of Care and Registered Waste Carrier End Use Environmental Permit / Exemption / Low Risk Position

7. Waste Treatment Acceptance: Duty of Care / Hazardous Waste Treatment: Environmental Permit / Exemption / Low Risk Position Movement from Site Non-waste End Use Non-waste End of Waste Quality Protocol What does a Protocol achieve?

8. Quality Protocol Requirements Good practice Records Management End Uses Waste Inputs Certification Scheme Standards

9. Quality Protocols issued so far…

10. 17 million tonnes£987,000,000 2,100,000 tonnes

11. Background – Issues and options 1996 2006 2008 Disputes between regulators and industry – Waste v Product Waste Protocols Programme 2006-2011 Revised Waste Framework Directive EQual 2012 Increasing no. of end of waste apps from industry to regulators across EU 2010 EU End of Waste Regulations Legal challenges over waste status Published QPs – massive benefit but inconsistent compliance Barriers to recycling such as waste stigma Low customer confidence in recycled materials Pollution incidents from waste products Regulators reviewing end of waste submissions

12. EQual : Ensuring the Quality of waste derived products to support resource efficiency

13. EQual – Partners

14. QP Checker e-tool Aim – The QP Checker will encourage the correct use of existing Quality Protocols, both through improved industrial compliance and more consistent regulation, helping to increase the quality & quantity of recycled materials. Our Products

15. Definition of Waste web-tool Aim - The Definition of Waste web-tool will support businesses to make their own end of waste decisions, encouraging the sustainable re-use of waste materials. Production process Our Products

16. Research Aim- Support the uptake of waste derived products by providing a more robust assessment of their performance and suitability to replace virgin materials. Our Products

17. So what? Has Quality improved through End of Waste?  Big financial benefits for business  Significant environmental benefits  QPs provide clarity to industry  Lack of regulation makes it hard to monitor quality  Certification schemes are our best tool but significant cost associated with them  UKAS appear to be a barrier to the wider use of certification schemes

18. Thank You Roger Hoare Environment & Business Manager Environment Agency (England & Wales) 0117 934 4108 roger.hoare@environment-agency.gov.uk equal@environment-agency.gov.uk www.environment-agency.gov.uk/equal