The Environment Agency has begun a pilot project that allows business and industry to track the collection, transfer and final destination of their waste electronically – to help clamp down on fly-tipping.
As part of the Waste Crime Innovation Programme (WCIP), the three-month electronic duty of care trial is being run by six waste companies in South East England, using mobile computer technology and a web-based tracking system to create and maintain electronic waste transfer notes (WTNs).
The Environment Agency’s WCIP project manager Paul Keay said moving from paper to electronic WTNs should improve the quality of data collected, ensure waste producers can easily track their waste and help waste carriers better fulfil their duty of care obligations.
“Waste transfer notes are vital in tracking waste from collection right through to disposal,” he said. “Most waste carriers still complete and store paper waste transfer notes, but the electronic duty of care trial will enable WTNs to be created and maintained electronically using web-hosted software and mobile computer handsets. This should make the process simpler, faster, and more accurate.
“With commercial, industrial and construction waste data collected electronically – including tonnage, type of waste, place of origin and destination – business and industry will be able to ensure their waste is being recycled and disposed of legally: reducing the risk of fly tipping and providing increased protection for the environment.”
“In addition, it should provide the Environment Agency with data that helps identify new recycling opportunities.”
Two large, two medium and two small waste companies are involved in the trial, with between 5-20 waste vehicles at each company aiming to capture up to 100 WTNs per week electronically. That will allow the Environment Agency to evaluate how the mobile computer technology could be used by waste carriers of all sizes.
The electronic duty of care project should also help to deliver business benefits to waste companies, including removing the need to store paper WTNs, speeding up invoicing and capturing electronic signatures to provide proof of collection and delivery of waste.
The Environment Agency will run a second trail phase with a wider take-up of companies should the initial trial be successful. Industry and other regulators have been invited to join an advisory board to ensure the benefits of the pilot are maximised.