Hazardous Waste

Legislation controls how we may dispose of hazardous wastes. Summaries of various waste streams can be found in the Consolidated European Waste Catalogue on the Environment Agency's website.

If a load leaves the University containing hazardous waste, the whole load will be declared hazardous and returned to the producer (University or Department). The producer must then, at their expense, remove the hazardous items and arrange for correct disposal. The waste reprocessor will inform the Environment Agency as a matter of course and we may be prosecuted.

Responsibilities

As well as correctly identifying and handling hazardous waste, it is also essential that we record and retain detailed information about wastes that are going for disposal. It is equally vital that the University only work with properly licensed waste operatives and carriers, which is why Campus Services are responsible for establishing processes to aggregate, store and dispose of hazardous wastes correctly.

Biological Waste

Please contact your local Area Health & Safety Co-ordinator

Chemical Waste

An annual collection of chemical waste is arranged during August, when departments can submit their collective waste products for disposal. Careful identification and listing is a requirement of this service. The costs of the service are charged back to departments according to the types and quantities of waste involved.  Please contact your local Area Health & Safety Co-ordinator or if an urgent collection is required email waste@reading.ac.uk.

Radioactive Waste

You may only dispose of radioactive waste within the terms of the authorisation from the Environment Agency - please contact the Radiation Safety Officer on extension 8887.