| Hazardous waste disposal, (UK and worldwide), can | | | | waste are required to have licensed facilities where |
| be a problem for the companies that generate the | | | | they can transfer and treat contaminated waste. |
| waste. For this reason most companies contract the | | | | They also need to have the proper trained and |
| work out to specialists who have the trained and | | | | experienced personnel to carry out any collecting, |
| experienced personnel, as well as the equipment and | | | | cleaning and disposal operation that may be required. |
| machinery, to deal with the problem. | | | | At the time of writing, if a company produces |
| Hazardous waste collection and disposal becomes | | | | contaminated or hazardous waste in excess of 500 |
| necessary as a result of spills, or because it is | | | | kilograms or 500 litres in any one year they are |
| generated by a particular process (for example, rig | | | | required to register with the Environment Agency in |
| decommissioning). Some industries, such as the oil and | | | | the UK. This means that they will also need the |
| gas industry, as well as the chemical industry | | | | services of a registered waste disposal specialist on a |
| generate a lot of hazardous waste in the course of | | | | contractual basis. |
| their business. All of it has to be properly and safely | | | | Should a company produce less than the stated |
| dealt with. | | | | amount of hazardous or contaminated waste, it still |
| Industries who incur hazardous waste as a result of | | | | has to be dealt with in the appropriate manner; even |
| unexpected spills need to have specialist companies | | | | though they don't need to register with the |
| on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They must | | | | Environment Agency. They are required to have a |
| be able to deal with the matter in a prompt and | | | | consignment note for the collection and movement |
| responsible manner. | | | | of hazardous and contaminated waste. The |
| Most hazardous waste must be collected first. The | | | | consignment note identifies the type of waste being |
| collection of hazardous waste is onsite where it can | | | | dealt with and it also tracks its movement. This |
| be temporarily stored in receiving vessels for transfer | | | | ensures a greater degree of safety to all those |
| to specialist storage facilities. Such storage facilities | | | | involved, as well as to the general public. |
| can usually accept large quantities of waste, and can | | | | In short, hazardous waste disposal (UK mainland or |
| separate mixed waste if required. Oily water, drilling | | | | offshore), is big business. Our ever increasing demand |
| mud and cuttings are typical of the kind of hazardous | | | | for products that produce these wastes, as a |
| waste that might be collected from the oil industry. | | | | necessary part of their production, shows no signs of |
| Oily water can be separated into oil and water. The | | | | letting up. This means that those who specialise in |
| two parts are dealt with differently. Oil contaminated | | | | hazardous waste collection and disposal are likely to |
| soil also needs to be treated properly and any waste | | | | have plenty of work to keep them busy for a long |
| disposed of. | | | | time to come. |
| The companies who are contracted to deal with the | | | | |