A Successful Hazardous Waste and Waste Carrier Audit Day of Action in Birmingham

Our Waste team recently carried out a focused Hazardous Waste Audit and Waste Carrier’s Audit Day of Action across two permitted sites in Birmingham. We focused on waste carriers transporting waste without the required authorisations or documentation describing the material they were carrying. Both locations are well known for receiving high volumes of scrap metal from individual waste carriers which make them key areas for targeted compliance checks.

At each site, two officers concentrated on identifying potentially hazardous waste that has been incorrectly identified. Everyone has a duty of care to describe and transfer waste legally, so we verify compliance by assessing waste and consignment paperwork. This included inspecting waste on site, analysing the returns and Hazardous Waste Intelligence Data and reviewing waste transfer and consignment notes to verify compliance. Meanwhile, the other two officers directly engaged with the carriers queuing to deposit waste onto site. They asked a set of questions on the waste carriers license and Duty of Care requirements, helping to identify any potential non-compliance before waste entered the site.

We identified that both permitted sites were misdescribing waste on site. It was also found that six operators were transporting waste without a valid licence. Ten additional carriers held valid licences however their responses during questioning indicated areas where further guidance would be beneficial. These carriers will receive follow-up audits to support a better understanding of Duty of Care requirements.

This day of action demonstrates the value of proactive and collaborative enforcement in the improvement of waste management standards. By combining on site inspections and direct engagement with carriers our teams continue to support safer, more compliant waste management practices across the region.