The increased cost of servicing

Pollution and it’s effect on the environment is not a new topic, however recent changes affecting businesses that (in the words of the environment agency) produce hazardous waste will be far reaching and I felt that an explanation of these changes would be of interest, as they are expensive to implement and will add significantly to the cost of servicing and repairs to your vehicle.

The new legislation requires me to register annually as a polluter with the environment agency ( Not a free service) and be issued with a Premises Code. Without this code I am unable to get my waste products removed. These products include Waste oil, Used Oil Filters, Oily Rags, Brake Fluid, Engine Coolant, Brake fluids and mixed fuels. Also I believe empty aerosol cans.

All these products have stored separately in special containers with waste oil requiring a bunded (Double Skinned ) tank. Less time for the real work.

Records have to be kept of all transactions. (More paper work)

The following is a copy of a letter sent out by my waste oil collector. I think it shows some of the problems we all face.

From. Associated Garage Services. IMPORTANT INFORMATION NEW REGULATION ON HAZARDOUS WASTE INCREASED COSTS FOR WASTE COLLECTION

ASSOCIATED GARAGE SERVICES GUIDANCE ON HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION AT YOUR PREMISES / SITE

Site Notification – Premises Code

16th of July 2005 is an important date if you are a producer of Hazardous waste at your premises. From this date, your site may need to be notified to the Environment Agency before Hazardous waste can be removed. If your site produces waste under the special waste regulations, you will most certainly be caught up in the new Hazardous Waste regulations. Wastes that are classed as hazardous are contained in the European Waste Catalogue which can be downloaded from the Environment Agency website. From 16th of July 2005 waste management companies i.e. Associated Garage Services will be unable to collect your waste without your premises code, as it will be an offence to do so .The Environment Agency has given a time of early April for sites to start registering. You pay your fee, and then you will be given a code. This code will only last a year and must be used on all consignment noted. If you are unsure if your premises needs to be notified call the National customer centre of the Environment Agency on 08708 – 852858

Waste Oil Collections

Most of the waste Oils collected from garages all over the UK is recycled into low cost Alternative fuel, which is used, in a number of industrial applications. Your recycled engine oil makes a superb alternative to Virgin fossil materials such as Gas or Oil. In addition, is a product, which has had more than one useful life! This superb system is set for change, as most of the outlets for this Alternative fuel are subject to another government directive the Waste Incineration directive (WID) This directive is so stringent that all outlets for Alternative fuels will be gone. Producers of waste oils (the Garage) have historically become used to disposing of there used waste oils at little cost, this is because waste oils had a value, because of pending directives, value for waste oils will significantly decrease, collectors and producers have no alternative but to pass their costs back to the waste producers. Used Engine oil filters – Antifreeze – Used mixed Fuels – Brake Fluids used Absorbents plus many other service generated wastes are included in the European Waste Catalogue list of wastes. The recycling routes and methods for all these materials has become very costly, Tighter controls and heavier legislation demanding that Re use and Re-cycling are primary methods that are to be used before disposal is an option. Since the implementation of the landfill directive on the 16th of July 2004 there has been a huge shortfall on sites that can accept Hazardous waste, Especially in the south of the country. At this moment in time, there is no hazardous waste site south of Swindon Accepting Hazardous waste. Legislation has taken much of the profitability away from the waste recycler, As this letter explains, the only option left to us, is to follow Environment Agency Guidelines and use the principle of “The Polluter Pays”. Associated Garage Services has had to increase it’s charges to keep our business in touch with these spiralling Directives and Legislation changes.

Well there you have it. Whether you agree or not, it will make running a car far more costly.

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