Environment Agency extends shredder residue regulatory position for 12 months. The EA has extended Regulatory Position Statement 314, which allows metal shredder residues to be sent to non-hazardous landfill, for a further 12 months. The RPS covers more than 750,000 tonnes of material per year from end-of-life vehicles, electrical equipment and mixed-metal scrap.
The BMRA said all responding operators in a survey relied on RPS 314 to manage shredder residues, with between 75 and 100 per cent of material handled through this route. The trade body submitted a formal proposal to the Environment Agency last month requesting the extension, supported by evidence from operators across England.
Operators report that no viable large-scale alternatives to non-hazardous landfill currently exist, with barriers including waste acceptance criteria exceedances, limited treatment capacity and high costs. Howard Bluck, BMRA technical director, said the extension provided "essential stability" for shredding operators but that "technical and market barriers to alternative outlets remain significant."
