Liquid waste

Disposal to drain

There are a number of substances which for a variety of reasons are considered to be too hazardous to be disposed of to drain.

This is due to the risk of them getting into either sewers or watercourses and the potential impact of them on human or environmental health.

All substances which fall within either of the categories outlined below are therefore banned from disposal to drain in on or from University properties and must be disposed of as special waste.

Waste designated as Special

Any liquid waste which falls under the category of Special (or Hazardous) waste, and any substance defined as a Persistent Organic Pollutant is automatically banned from disposal to drain.

It should be determined at the point of completion of a COSHH assessment whether any waste falls within this category, through the use of the hazardous assessment methodology.

Substances or conditions requiring Trade Effluent Consent

In addition, there is a specific list of substances or conditions which have been identified through EU or national legislation as being inappropriate for disposal to sewerage without prior notification and approval by the local water company.

In this instance, the University would be obliged to obtain a Trade Effluent Consent in order to allow the disposal of any of these substances to drain. All substances which fall within the categories listed by NetRegs are  banned from disposal to drain in, on, or from University properties and must be disposed of as special waste.

Liquid waste disposal

Liquids which do not fall within either of the categories outlined above may sometimes be safely disposed of to drain. However, the responsibility remains with the individual or group producing liquid waste to adequately assess and confirm that their liquid waste is in no way hazardous before disposing to drain.