“If it can’t be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, designed or removed from production”
The waste management sector is probably one of the most regulated industries in the United Kingdom and probably in the world.
Due to these regulations it is very rare for waste organisations to only have ISO 9001, they generally have all 3 core standards; ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001. Due to the tight regulations we ensure that we allocate auditors that have core competence to audit all three at the same time.
The Environmental Agency monitors the waste sector relatively closely but they don’t necessarily check the same elements of the business as ISO assessments cover. The EA generally focus on license adherence and not all the other business management requirements that our assessors would.
Both EA and ISO assessments are important and support each other.
Benefits of ISO Certification for Waste Management Organisations:
In 2015, the core ISO standards all aligned and now follow Annex SL which sets out a high level clause structure for all standards to follow. This makes it easier to integrate different management systems into one core set of policies and procedures, reducing documentation and allowing for multiple standards to be assessed at the same time.
ISO 9001 in the Waste Management Sector
In order to assess waste management organisations ISO auditors having knowledge of ISO 9001 alone will not suffice. The ISO 9001 standard is important to develop the strategic direction of the business but needs to be supported by ISO 14001 to ensure legal compliance.
Some of the benefits of ISO 9001 for Waste Management organisations include:
ISO 14001 in the Waste Management Sector
ISO 14001 is the most important of the three core standards for waste management businesses as the most regulations come from the Environmental Agency. A key focus for ISO assessors during an Environmental Management System audit will be compliance with the Waste Management License and all the supporting documentation.
The ISO assessment will help build confidence in your management of the license but also drives an increase in recycling rates as that’s where the money is for your business. ISO 14001 assessors will work closely with WAMITAB personnel to give confidence to top management that the business is not only compliant but efficient.
Some of the benefits of ISO 14001 for Waste Management organisations include:
ISO 45001 in the Waste Management Sector
There are many health and safety risks surrounding the waste management industry, not only on the road but also within the transfer station and MRF (Material Recovery Facility). There are many risks associated with the operations such as access and egress, fires, items being trapped within the machinery and equipment.
Due to the high risk nature of the waste industry it’s important to have a robust health and safety management system in place.
Some of the benefits of ISO 45001 for Waste Management organisations include:
