duty of care

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 & The Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 place a "Duty of Care" on anyone who produces, collects, treats and disposes of waste. This includes feminine hygiene, clinical, sharps, medicines, dental wastes, confidential waste or other waste to be recycled (e.g. cans, paper, bottles, toner cartridges)

- to prevent any other persons committing the offences of depositing, disposing of or recovering controlled waste without a waste management license.

- to prevent escape of waste, that is to contain it.Waste that is transferred only goes to authorized persons.

- when waste is transferred, correct documentation describes the waste and other relevant details (i.e. a Duty of Care Waste Transfer Note or Hazardous/Special waste Consignment Note)

If you break the law you could be fined an unlimited amount. In accordance with the 1990 Act/1997 Order, Cannon have produced two information leaflets which are available to download below. The Government have produced statutory Codes of Practice which gives more detail on Duty of Care and Guidance on how to comply.

The main principles of duty of care are about documenting the transfer of waste and checking up on anyone you transfer waste to (e.g. if they are a registered carrier of waste, if they are taking waste to suitably licensed/permitted sites). You should only use a Contractor who can provide proof of compliance with the legislation.

Cannon can provide proof of compliance with the legislation as outlined below and detailed in our Duty of Care - Cannon Compliance and Charges leaflet.

Download - Duty of care General
Download - Duty of Care Cannon Compliance and Charges

Download - The Duty of Care, A Code of Practice (Great Britain)
Download - The Duty of Care A Code of Practice (Northern Ireland)

waste carrier registration

Cannon are authorised to take your waste by being Registered Carriers of Waste under the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 and The Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. As a first step in complying with Duty of Care, Waste Producers should at the very least obtain proof of Registration. Copies of our Waste Carrier Registrations for both Great Britain and Northern Ireland can be accessed and downloaded here:

Download - Waste Carrier Registration Certificates for Great Britain and Northern Ireland (2009 - 2012)

waste management licensing/exemptions from waste management licences

All Cannon Hygiene sites to which waste is taken for storage (prior to onward transfer to final disposal) and/or confidential shredding hold Waste Management Licences as Waste Transfer Stations or are registered as exempt under The Environmental Protection Act 1990 or The Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. Copies of these Waste Management Licences/ Registered Exemptions and for any sites we transfer waste to for further treatment or final disposal are available on request.

hazardous and special waste regulations

All clinical waste, dental waste and some medicinal waste has the potential to be hazardous or special (in Scotland) waste and subject to additional legal requirements. Further details are available on our Hazardous and Special waste regulations page.

landfill regulations: treatment of non-hazardous waste

Under Landfill Regulations implemented across the United Kingdom (details and timings of Regulations differ in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland), landfill sites will no longer be able to accept waste unless it has been pre-treated. This takes effect in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 30 October 2007, and in Scotland from 31 March 2007. Non-hazardous wastes that Cannon collects affected by this are feminine hygiene, nappy, incontinence and non-hazardous swabs and dressings (all now referred to as 'offensive wastes' ). Further details are available on our Landfill Regulations: Treatment of non-hazardous waste page.