Waste management in a company is a set of activities aimed at meeting requirements related to, among other things, waste generation, collection, processing, sometimes storage, leachate generation, and occasionally pollutant emissions. These criteria stem directly from applicable regulations as well as the specific nature of the industry in which the company operates. Because they are usually complex, it is easy to make mistakes that can result in financial penalties. In the following text, we list the most common ones and explain how to avoid them.
The most common mistakes in waste management – what to avoid?
The company's waste management strategy must take into account constantly changing regulations (both national and European), which indicate a number of obligations that are then verified during inspections carried out by authorized bodies. It is therefore necessary to monitor changes and respond to problems faced by the company..
You can do this yourself or work with specialists. This is a convenient solution because it allows you to avoid the following mistakes.
Costly formal and legal problems
One of the most frequently discussed issues in the context of waste management is entry in the BDO register (Waste Database). Generating and transferring waste to entities not registered with the Waste Database constitutes a serious violation of the law and may result in significant financial penalties.
Importantly, however, just making an entry is not enough. Myou must also remember to assign the correct codes for waste classificationSome companies struggle with this due to a lack of sufficient knowledge of the applicable regulations.
So how can we avoid financial penalties? Familiarize yourself with key information about BDO or seek assistance from an environmental consulting firm. The same applies to preparing annual reports on waste generation and management in the BDO system. Companies often make formal errors or miss deadlines (the report for the previous year is due by March 15th).
Improper storage and transfer of waste
Hazardous waste typically must be stored in airtight, secure containers. Regulations also specify that it can be stored for a maximum of three years. Mistakes made by companies include both improper storage and exceeding this time limit. Therefore, it seems crucial to have full knowledge of these (and many similar) criteria that are taken into account by the control authorities.
Another problem concerns transferring waste to inappropriate or unauthorized companies, especially when the waste may pose a threat to the environment or human or animal health. Remember to only work with entities registered with the BDO (Body of Debt Collection) and possessing the appropriate permits and certificates.
Incorrect waste segregation
Mixing municipal waste with electronic waste, plastic with chemicals, or hazardous substances with mixed waste is, unfortunately, still a fairly common practice. They prove to be harmful both to nature and to the companies that engage in such practices. They lead to financial penalties – high enough to threaten the continued operation of the company on the market.
Professional waste management for your company? Partner with specialists.
Of course, there are many more errors in waste management. In many cases, they stem from ignorance of regulations or a lack of tools and procedures for enforcing them. However, such problems can be easily addressed. How?
All you need to do is find a consulting company that has the knowledge and resources needed to handle this type of task.This decision allows the company to focus on legal actions and increases the chances of minimizing or even avoiding legal or financial consequences.
