Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
Provide adequate settlement capacity for yard run-off and washout from wagons. Where possible, reuse water from settlement within your business processes.
Make sure you take adequate measures to prevent run-off and washout from your site entering and polluting drains and watercourses.
Connect delivery areas to the foul drainage system, as run-off is likely to cause contamination.
You must get permission from your water company or water authority before connecting to the drainage system.
Water UK: Contact your water company
Scotland on Tap: Water and sewerage providers in Scotland
Use roll over bunds, and ramped or stepped access, to isolate the area from the surface water system.
If possible, install pipelines above the ground and protect them from collision damage. If you install a pipeline below the ground, you should:
Do not connect pipeline ducts to the surface water system.
Reducing the amount of water you use may save you money and will lessen your impact on the environment. You can identify areas where you can make reductions by carrying out regular reviews of water use.
Where raw materials mix with water the resulting run-off can be highly polluting. For example:
Where yard run-off is likely to have mixed with raw materials or process chemicals, you should not allow it to enter watercourses or the foul sewer without prior written authorisation. Capture it and if necessary, have samples laboratory tested to identify the most appropriate disposal method.
Where possible, rather than washing the area down, you should sweep up spilled materials.
SEPA Special Waste Consignment Notes – updated position, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is now accepting special waste consignment notes (SWCNs) by email only.
DAERA Waste Policy Tracker, The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has published a Waste policy tracker to stay informed of waste policy developments.
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