Hazardous waste

For further guidance, see Practice Note: Brexit—impact on environmental law and News Analysis: Brexit Bulletin—key updates, research tips and resources.

This Overview covers key legislation on hazardous waste including the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC, the List of Waste Decision 2000/532/EU, the List of Wastes and the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005, SI 2005/894. It describes how hazardous waste is classified and where to find the rules governing its collection, transport and disposal.

Hazardous waste generally refers to waste which could cause harm to the environment or to human health. Its treatment and disposal have been regulated for many years by EU legislation. In the past, it was governed by specific Hazardous Waste Directives, but since 2008 it has been within the ambit of the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC (WFD), which sets out principles and rules for how Member States should deal with all waste types. Rules for hazardous waste in particular are set out in Articles 17–20 of WFD.

The EU List of Waste Decision 2000/532/EU supports WFD and is used for determining whether any given waste should be classified

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