The management of Hazardous Waste in the UK is changing in order to incorporate the requirements of the European Hazardous Waste Directive 91/689/EC. Separate Regulations are being introduced in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England reflecting each administration’s devolved powers with respect to environmental regulation. SMDSA and its Members have actively participated in the consultation processes throughout the UK and will be able to provide specific advice and support. 

The SMDSA and its Members support the Department of Transport position (as submitted to the UN) on BULK transportation of clinical waste. In the current absence of guidance to operators on compliance with the Exemption, the following ‘street guide’ has been developed by SMDSA and agreed with HSE as meeting the requirements and objectives for carriage in BULK.  

In 1957 the UK signed an international treaty called "Accord Europeen relatif au transport international des marchandise dangereuses par route" which is a European agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road, also more commonly known as "ADR". The purpose of this agreement is to provide a standardised and internationally recognised means of protecting human health and the environment from the dangers posed by the transport of dangerous goods.

The Waste Incineration Directive 2000/76/EC will impose strict new standards on air emissions, ash quality and monitoring. Whilst full implementation is not until 2006, it is unlikely that any incineration plant currently in use will meet the new requirements without substantial investment. That investment programme would need to start in the next year or so for the deadlines to be met, and in many instances it may be that operators will not be able to modify the plant or make available the capital to operate beyond 2005. 

After discussions in Europe throughout the 1990's, the EC Landfill Directive was finally agreed by the European Parliament on 26 April 1999.  This requires UK legislation to be made to bring it into force in the UK by 16 July 2001.  A Department of The Environment , Transport and the Regions (DETR) Consultation Paper in October 2000 indicated that this will be brought about by amendments to the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations 2000 (PPC).