NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental

Management
NEBOSH Environmental Certificate
The NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental Management provides an excellent overview of
environmental management systems, including the relevant international standards and best
practices for control of environmental hazards. It is suitable for:
• Managers, supervisors and employees who have a responsibility for managing environmental
issues
• Those looking to start a career in environmental management

The NEBOSH Environmental Certificate is widely respected by employers worldwide; holders are
eligible to apply for Technician Membership of CIWEM (TechCIWEM)

Course Content
The NEBOSH Environmental Certificate is made up of
two units:
Unit EC1: Management and Control of
Environmental Hazards
• Foundations in Environmental Management
• Environmental Management Systems
• Environmental Impact Assessments
• Control of Emissions to Air
• Control of Contamination of Water Sources
• Control of Waste and Land Use
• Sources and Use of Energy and Energy Efficiency
• Control of Environmental Noise
• Planning for and Dealing with Environmental
Emergencies
Assessed by a 2 hour examination.

Unit EC2: Environmental Practical

Application “An excellent course which has lots of
• Work based Health and Safety Practical information.”
Application Paul Johnson
NEBOSH Environmental Certificate Classroom
Course, September 2015

Email: info@rrc.co.uk Web: www.rrc.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)20 8944 3100

 NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental
Management
Ways to study:
Classroom
London
Delivered over 5 days + assessment
Our classroom courses give you a disciplined and
interactive place to learn. Led by RRC’s expert trainers
and supported by the best learning materials available.

E-learning
Available Worldwide
Around 60 study hours + assessment
Fit your studies around your other commitments by
studying online. Our online courses are fully interactive
with videos, quizzes and practice questions, and you will “The course was amazing!”
receive unlimited tutor support throughout your course. Sotiria Thanopoulou
Exams can be sat at our RRC centres in London, Birmingham, Manchester, NEBOSH Environmental Certificate
Newcastle, Glasgow, Bahrain, Dubai, Tunis or Tbilisi or one of our 190+ Classroom Course, September 2015
Exam Venues Worldwide.
Revision
Publications available
Revision guides containing a condensed version of the
course materials with practice questions and sample
answers are also available. These are available as
printed books or pdf files.

Why RRC?
• Over 85 years experience
• Chosen by over 1 million students as their preferred training
provider
• Our expert trainers and friendly support team inspire total
confidence all who we train and advise
• Quality Training from experts
• Excellence in Customer Service
• Commitment to Quality
• Great Results

Email: info@rrc.co.uk Web: www.rrc.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)20 8944 3100

 NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental
Management
Sample Material
Our high-quality textbooks have been designed to support students throughout their studies, as well as providing a
useful guide for practitioners and those with HSE responsibilities at work. These full-colour, fully illustrated books
are aligned to the relevant awarding-body syllabus for each qualification, breaking down all the key topics so they
are easy to understand.

The materials are designed with:

• Key Information boxes, which present an overview of the important facts, ideas and principles of each
section
• Glossary boxes, giving descriptions or definitions of words or phrases that may be unfamiliar
• More... boxes containing sources of further information
• Hints and Tips boxes, containing simple ideas that can help you as you work through the book
• Revision Questions at the end of each main section to test your knowledge as you progress
• Practice exam-style questions with step-by-step guidance on how to answer them

Following is a sample of RRC Study Material for:

NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental Management
Unit NEC1 Element 6

Email: info@rrc.co.uk Web: www.rrc.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)20 8944 3100

 AL
ELEMENT

CONTROL OF WASTE AND LAND USE

6

RI
LEARNING OUTCOMES
On completion of this element, you should
be able to demonstrate understanding of

TE
the content by applying what you have
learnt to familiar and unfamiliar situations.
In particular, you should be able to:
 Outline
 the significance of different waste categories
and the relationship between category and route of

MA
disposal.

 Explain the importance of minimising waste.

 Outline
 how to manage waste.

 Describe outlets available for waste.

LE
 Outline
 the risks associated with contaminated land.
MP
SA
C
RR

© RRC International Unit EC1 – Element 6: Control of Waste and Land Use | 6-1
Contents

AL
CATEGORIES OF WASTE 6-3
The Waste Framework Directive 6-3
Definition of Waste 6-3
Inert Waste 6-3
Hazardous Waste 6-4
Non-Hazardous Waste 6-4

RI
Clinical Waste 6-5
Radioactive Waste 6-5
Controlled Waste (UK) 6-5
Revision Questions 6-6

TE
MINIMISING WASTE 6-7
The Waste Hierarchy 6-9
Benefits, Limitations and Barriers to Re-use and Recycling 6-10
Revision Question 6-11

MANAGING WASTE 6-12

MA
Recognition of the Key Steps 6-12
Responsible Waste Management 6-12
On-Site Separation and Storage including Segregation, Identification and Labelling 6-13
Transportation including Transfer to an Authorised Person and Required Regulatory Documentation 6-14
Differing Requirements for Waste 6-15
Disposal 6-15
Producer Responsibility 6-15
Packaging Waste 6-15
Electrical and Electronic Waste 6-15
LE
Waste from Construction Projects 6-16
Revision Question 6-16

OUTLETS AVAILABLE FOR WASTE 6-17

Landfill and Incineration as Ultimate Disposal Routes 6-17
Other Treatment or Disposal Routes 6-20
MP

Waste Disposal in Developing Countries 6-20

Costs and the Impact of Landfill and Aggregate Taxes 6-21
Revision Questions 6-21

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CONTAMINATED LAND 6-22

The Potential Effects of Contaminated Land to the Environment 6-22
Contaminated Land Liabilities 6-23
SA

Revision Questions 6-24

SUMMARY 6-25

EXAM SKILLS 6-26

C
RR

6-2 | Unit EC1 – Element 6: Control of Waste and Land Use © RRC International
 Categories of Waste

AL
KEY INFORMATION
• Waste can be defined as “any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard”.
• Waste can be categorised in a number of ways. Common categories are: inert, hazardous, non-hazardous, clinical
and radioactive.

RI
• EU Directive 94/62/EC on Packaging and Packaging Waste commits member states to take measures to stop
the production of packaging waste including programmes to encourage the re-use of packaging.
• Construction sites produce significant quantities of waste.

TE
THE WASTE FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE
‘Waste’ is a term we all think we understand, but the legal
issues surrounding the definition of waste are complex.
There are many different types of waste that may be
Anything discarded or dealt with as waste must be
presumed to be waste unless proved otherwise. A ‘Yes’
answer to any of the following questions should clarify any
doubts about the matter:

MA
encountered in practice, and it is important to understand • Would it normally be described as waste?
the various categories because of the differences in the
way that they are regulated. • Is it a scrap material?

The EU Waste Framework Directive, first adopted in
1975, is the foundation of waste regulation and aims to
ensure a uniform approach to waste management across
the EU. Member states must:
• Adopt the waste hierarchy (i.e. give priority to waste
LE
prevention and encourage re-use and recycling).
• Ensure that waste is handled safely and without
harming the environment.
• Ensure that waste management activities are
authorised.
MP
• Is it an effluent or other unwanted substance?
• Is it broken, worn out, contaminated or spoilt?
• Is it being discarded as if it were waste?
MORE…
Further information can be found in Defra’s:
Guidance on the legal definition of waste and its
application (2012).
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/

• Establish an adequate infrastructure of waste uploads/attachment_data/file/69590/pb13813-

management installations. waste-legal-def-guide.pdf

• Prepare waste management plans.

Waste materials can be categorised in a number of ways.
• Ensure that waste producers bear the costs of disposal The categories that are most typically recognised in
in line with the ‘polluter pays’ principle. legislation around the world are described below.
SA

DEFINITION OF WASTE INERT WASTE

Article 3(1) of the current version of the Directive
(2008/98/EC), retains the original 1975 general
definition of waste as:
“…any substance or object which the holder discards or
intends or is required to discard”.
C
Broadly speaking, this is waste which is stable, i.e. it does
not degrade physically, chemically or biologically, nor
does it dissolve, burn, chemically react or leach out to
any degree that could be considered ecotoxic. Examples
would include uncontaminated bricks, glass, concrete and
tiles. If there is any suspicion of contamination, these items
cannot be considered inert waste. The Landfill Directive

99/31/EC provides further criteria on what constitutes

inert waste.
RR

© RRC International Unit EC1 – Element 6: Control of Waste and Land Use | 6-3
Categories of Waste
GLOSSARY
ECOTOXIC
Generally taken to mean ‘damaging to the
environment’, although it is a general term and
does not account for levels of toxicity, e.g. very
toxic or toxic. Nor does it account for the sensitivity
of specific species or ecosystems, e.g. an ecotoxic
substance may be very toxic to one species but have
little, if any, harmful effect on another.
HAZARDOUS WASTE
Certain wastes pose a particular danger to human health
or to the environment. The Waste Framework Directive
(Annex III) identifies the properties of a waste material that
render it hazardous. In summary, this covers substances
that are:
• Explosive.
• Oxidising (substances which are highly reactive in
contact with other substances).
• Highly flammable.
• Irritant (substances that can cause inflammation of the
LE
skin or mucous membranes).
• Harmful (substances which may involve limited health
risks).
• Toxic (substances that may involve serious health risks).
• Carcinogenic (substances that may induce cancer).
MP
• Corrosive (substances that may destroy living tissue on
contact).
• Infectious (substances that contain disease-causing
micro-organisms).
• Mutagenic (substances that may damage or change
hereditary genetic material).
SA
• Release toxic gases in contact with water, air or an acid.
• Sensitising (substances that can elicit an allergic
reaction).
• Ecotoxic (substances that present a risk to the
environment).
• Waste that may yield another substance after disposal
C
that exhibits any of the above properties (e.g. waste in
a landfill that generates a toxic leachate).
RR
6-4 | Unit EC1 – Element 6: Control of Waste and Land Use © RRC International
AL
Examples of some commonly encountered wastes that
meet one or more of these hazardous waste criteria are:
• Liquid fuels, such as petrol and diesel; solvents such as
white spirit (explosive; highly flammable).
• Strong acids or alkalis, e.g. battery acid or bleach
RI
(oxidising; irritant; corrosive).
• Insecticides, wood preservatives or old medicines
(harmful; toxic; ecotoxic; sensitising).
• Waste oil, batteries containing lead, cadmium or
TE
mercury, fluorescent lighting tubes containing mercury
(toxic; ecotoxic; mutagenic).
• Contaminated textiles, such as used bandages or
dressings, asbestos (infectious; carcinogenic).
Disposal of hazardous wastes is managed by specialist
companies who operate dedicated chemical plants.
MA
Recovery of waste oils, solvents, etc. is usually followed
by incineration of the residues, which must be carefully
controlled to minimise production of substances such
as dioxins and furans. This involves careful control of
incinerator temperatures and cleaning of effluent gases.
(Note that in Scotland the term ‘special waste’ is equivalent
to ‘hazardous waste’ in most other countries.)
MORE…
The Environment Agency has produced a useful
guide on how any waste material should be assessed
to determine if it should be treated as legally
hazardous: Hazardous waste: interpretation of the
definition and classification of hazardous waste
(WM2).
www.gov.uk/government/publications/hazardous-
waste-technical-guidance-wm2
NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE
Wastes which are controlled under legislation, but
are neither inert, nor exhibit any of the properties of
hazardous wastes, are classified as non-hazardous. This
category actually accounts for a high proportion of
the wastes that are generated on a day-to-day basis by
households and businesses, including paper, card, plastic
packaging, cans and food waste.
Despite the name, non-hazardous wastes have the
potential to cause significant environmental impacts. Many
of these wastes are biodegradable, or may be corroded by
the action of weather. If these wastes are landfilled they
may generate methane gas which is a potent greenhouse
gas, and generate toxic leachate with the potential to
contaminate surface and groundwaters.

CLINICAL WASTE
Clinical waste is, effectively, a special category of hazardous
waste, often treated separately in legislation because of
the need for special methods of treatment and disposal.
Clinical wastes are healthcare wastes which could harm
people if they come into contact with them. The definition
RI
is wide-ranging, but includes:
• Soiled surgical swabs, dressings, etc.
• Excretions.
• Blood or body fluids.
TE
• Human and animal tissues, carcasses, etc.
• Syringes, needles or other sharps.
• Drugs or other pharmaceuticals.
MA
LE
MP
Clinical wastes and healthcare wastes
SA
Clinical waste should be segregated from general waste;
separate bins, signage and training should be provided
to encourage this. There are various methods for achieving
this, for example:
• Soiled surgical dressings should be put into heavy-duty
yellow bags (2/3 full) and securely fastened.
• Sharps should go into properly designed sharps
C
containers.
• Laboratory material, where risk of pathogens is high,
should be autoclaved before being included with other
clinical waste.
RR
© RRC International Unit EC1 – Element 6: Control of Waste and Land Use
Categories of Waste
AL
GLOSSARY
AUTOCLAVE
Equipment which uses high-pressure steam to
sterilise material.
RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Radioactive waste is also a special category of hazardous
waste that is governed by specific legislation. The
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) defines
radioactive wastes as being:
“waste that contains, or is contaminated with,
radionuclides at concentrations or activities greater
than clearance levels as established by the regulatory
body”.
In practice, this definition covers:
• High volumes of waste from the nuclear power
industry where the level of radioactivity may vary from
low to very high.
• Low volumes of waste produced by other businesses
that use small quantities of radioactive materials in
laboratories and in sensing and monitoring equipment.
Radioactive warning sign
CONTROLLED WASTE (UK)
In the UK, the term ‘controlled waste’ is often used.
Controlled waste is any waste which is controlled by
the relevant legislation (especially the Environmental
Protection Act 1990 and the Control of Pollution Act
1974).
Controlled waste effectively covers all of the waste that is
likely to be encountered, including that from households,
commerce (including construction and agriculture) and
industry (including mining and quarrying).
| 6-5
Categories of Waste

AL
RI
TE
MA
LE
MP
SA
C

REVISION QUESTIONS
1. Define ‘waste’.
RR

2. Identify the criteria used to classify waste as

hazardous.
(Suggested Answers are at the end.)

6-6 | Unit EC1 – Element 6: Control of Waste and Land Use © RRC International
 Minimising Waste

AL
KEY INFORMATION
• Minimising waste can help organisations make significant cost savings by following some practical steps, such
as reviewing current practice, identifying opportunities for improvement, setting KPIs and targets, training and
monitoring performance.

RI
• The waste hierarchy defines the most desirable methods for waste management through to the least desirable.
• There are a number of benefits, limitations and barriers to waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.

TE
The increasing volume of waste generated by the
developed world is one of the biggest problems facing the
planet today. In the developing world, it is also a major
worry, with increased populations and higher standards of
living, both contributing to significant increases in waste.
Packaging is often highlighted as an area of significant

MA
waste and there are still major reductions that can be made
in many areas of packaging. However, not all packaging
is bad. Much of it protects goods from being damaged
in transit and without some packing more damage, and
therefore waste, would occur. As an example, a shrink-
wrapped cucumber remains saleable for 14 days, whereas
without wrapping it lasts just three days.
LE
TOPIC FOCUS
Waste Minimisation in Practice
Waste minimisation has clear benefits for society but can also result in significant cost savings for organisations. Some
practical steps for achieving waste minimisation are outlined below:
• Current Practice
MP

The process should start by undertaking a review of current practice. Measurement is at the heart of this activity:
–– How much of exactly what type of waste is currently being created in particular areas of the organisation?
–– Waste arisings should be classified and quantified by type (e.g. paper, card, scrap metal, empty containers,
chemicals, waste raw material, etc.) and by category (i.e. inert, hazardous, non-hazardous).
–– What disposal routes are currently being used for each type of waste? Which disposal contractors are being
used?
SA

–– How much did it cost in the last year to dispose of each waste stream?
Note that much of the information and data required can be obtained by reviewing statutory documentation,
such as waste transfer notes and hazardous waste consignment notes.
• Identify Opportunities
Having established what is happening at the moment, identify potential improvements:
–– Is the organisation ordering surplus goods that it does not need?
–– Are manufacturing processes using raw materials efficiently?
C

–– Are there opportunities for investing in more resource-efficient equipment or processes?

–– Can any materials that are currently going to waste be re-used elsewhere in the organisation?
–– Is it possible to switch to more efficient waste contractors?
RR

(Continued)

© RRC International Unit EC1 – Element 6: Control of Waste and Land Use | 6-7