Chemical waste guidance for UK sites
Plain English guidance on classification, storage, legislation and collection planning for commercial chemical waste.
What Is Solvent Recovery?
Solvent recovery means reprocessing used solvents so they can be used again, usually by distillation at permitted facilities. This guide explains how it works, where it sits in the waste hierarchy and the regulatory context, including permits and end of waste.
Read guide 7 min
Are Empty Chemical Containers Hazardous Waste?
Empty chemical containers can be hazardous or non-hazardous waste depending on what is left in or on them. This guide explains how WM3 and GOV.UK classify waste packaging, what "empty" means and how the chapter 15 codes are applied.
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What Is POPs Waste?
POPs waste is waste containing persistent organic pollutants at or above set concentration limits. This guide explains what POPs are, the regulations behind them, which wastes can contain them and the GOV.UK rules on destroying them.
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What Is Controlled Waste?
Controlled waste is the legal term for household, industrial and commercial waste. This guide explains where the term comes from, how waste is sorted into each category, where hazardous chemical waste fits and the duty of care that applies.
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What Are Hazardous Substances?
Hazardous substances are chemicals and other materials that can harm people or the environment. This guide explains how they are defined, classified and labelled in Great Britain, with examples, and how they differ from hazardous waste.
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WM3 Explained: The Waste Classification Guidance
Technical Guidance WM3 is the main reference for assessing whether waste is hazardous and assigning List of Waste codes in England, Scotland and Wales. This guide explains who publishes it, how it is structured and how it links to the duty to classify waste.
Read guide 7 minStill not sure how to dispose of your chemical waste?
Send photographs of the containers and labels. Our team will review the details and advise on collection.