Waste Managment for Garages

The Waste Enforcement Section of Sligo County Council are embarking on a series of waste management surveys and inspections of commercial premises to ascertain how waste is being managed to ensure that waste management legislation is being complied with.

Motor Trade Industry

Initially, the Waste Enforcement Officers will be working with the motor trade industry to assist them to minimise their waste and advise on best practice in recycling the various waste types.

“A garage produces a wide range of wastes in the course of its daily business.  Many of the common waste types produced by the motor trade are listed as hazardous waste and if they are not disposed of or recycled properly they have the potential to pollute and damage our environment”, said Matthew Byrne, Waste Enforcement Officer.

In the motor trade the following wastes can be classified as hazardous:

• Waste Oils
• Used Oil filters
• Oily rags
• Empty oil top-up bottles
• Antifreeze liquid
• Car Batteries
• Unused and excess car paint & solvents
• Old tyres

Tyres

It is no longer permissible to landfill tyres. They must only be given to a person with a suitable waste collection permit. It is an offence to give waste to anybody else.

Every effort should be made to identify tyres suitable for re-threading or remoulding. Under no circumstances should scrap tyres be supplied for use on a bonfire and scrap tyres should always be kept secure to prevent the possibility of them being removed for this or any other illegal purpose.

It is not permissible to pass old tyres onto a farmer, unless the farmer has a waste permit.

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste is a special category of waste. This type of waste must be tracked from the producer (i.e. garage owner) to its final disposal, destruction or reuse. The movement and storage of hazardous waste must comply with additional requirements, including record keeping and transport by competent carriers in possession of a valid waste collection permit.

A C1 Form must accompany any movement of hazardous waste within Ireland and Transfrontier Shipment (TFS) documentation is needed for transfer of hazardous waste outside the Republic of Ireland.

For further information on any of the above contact the Environment Section, Sligo County Council, Tel: 071-9111111 or check on www.connaughtwaste.ie for information on permit holders.

Published on the 16/05/2006