Discharges to the public foul sewer, which must be authorised by the local water company, are subject to Trade Effluent Consent. All other waste generated on any Greencore Group location is subject to The Duty of Care under the Environmental Protection Act (as amended). The waste may be subject to control under the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (as amended), or for certain hazardous waste (e.g. laboratory waste), be covered by the Special Waste Regulations (as amended).

Greencore Group Sites and Surface Water Drains.

There are two types of drain at most of our locations:

• Surface water drains
  These must only carry uncontaminated water from roofs and clean yard areas to a watercourse (often referred to in the legislation as “a controlled water”) or a soakaway.
  All Greencore Group locations must ensure that adequate treatment is provided before wastewater is discharged into any controlled water or soakaway.

• Foul Drains
  These are designed to carry away-contaminated water, trade effluent and domestic sewage to a treatment works. A charge levied by the local Water Company will be made for this service. Every effort must be made by all Greencore Group locations to minimise this cost to the business.
  Advice and support is available from corporate staff and approved consultants.

Protection of water courses by Risk Assessment.

All Greencore Group locations must have up to date service drawings. Wrongly connected drainage can do and have caused pollution problems. It is essential that new and temporary facilities like sinks, showers, canteens and wash-down areas are only connected to the foul drain rather than merely to the nearest drain. It is an offence to discharge anything other than uncontaminated water to a surface drain.

Identification of grids and manhole covers.

All drainage systems must be inspected regularly and maintained.
Gullies, grids and manhole covers must be colour coded
in accordance with Environment Agency and Greencore Group guidelines 03.040.She.
Red for Foul drains, blue for surface water drains and yellow for interceptors.

Materials Handling and Delivery

Handling and delivery of materials such as cleaning chemicals and liquid food always carries a risk of spillage etc. The risks should be identified by risk assessment. So that the chances of an incident occurring and the potential environmental impacts are minimised.

• Loading and unloading areas must be designated marked and isolated from all surface water drainage systems.
• Materials movement routes must be identified so that additional protection can be incorporated if necessary.
• High-risk areas such as refuelling points and chemical storage areas must be isolated from the surface water drainage system by means of interceptors, ramps, and roll over bunds or stepped access.
• Deliveries of oil and potentially hazardous substances both to the environment and the individual must wherever possible be supervised. Where this is not possible the Greencore Group location must detail how they will protect individuals and the environment to any equally acceptable standard.
• All potential spills must be contained and reported to factory management immediately.
• Tankers must discharge via a lockable fixed coupling within a bunded area.
• Automatic cut off valves should be fitted to prevent overfilling.
• High level alarms should be fitted in addition to automatic cut off valves.

 Waste Management and Recycling

All Greencore Group locations should give due consideration to methods to reduce the amount of waste generated such as recycling, waste minimisation and reuse on site.

Under the Environmental Protection Act (as amended) waste producers have a duty of care to ensure that all waste is properly managed. It must be secured in a secure fashion on site and the producer has a duty to ensure that a registered waste contractor removes it. Advice relating to the registration of waste contractors is freely available from the local council.

The waste producer must also inform the waste contractor of the exact nature of all waste.

Refuse compactors and other skips can leak polluting liquids. They should be sited on an impermeable base and isolated from surface water drains. Ideally skips should be covered to avoid an accumulation of rainwater and any drainage connected to the foul sewer.

Liquids must be stored securely in bunded compounds prior to collection by a registered waste contractor. Waste liquids must not be discharged to the surface water drainage system under any circumstances.

Certain hazardous wastes e.g. laboratory and clinical waste are defined as “special waste” and are covered by more rigorous consignment notes.

Cleaning and degreasing activities.

Cleaning activities such as lorry washes and steam cleaning processes will produce large volumes of polluted water. These operations must be carried out in designated areas which only drain to the foul sewer and are isolated from the surface water system. Such areas must be clearly marked and the use of kerb surround, roll over bunds or interceptors are necessary.

All contractors and staff employed by any Greencore Group location must be made fully aware of the local disposal facilities for wastewater.

Staff Training and Security

All staff must be made fully aware of their responsibilities to the company and the environment. Adequate training must be provided to staff so that they are able to prevent pollution and understand the provisions of all relevant legislation. Company newsletter poster notices and where necessary discipline should be used to keep the message in people’s minds.

All Greencore Group locations must be protected against vandalism.
Many pollution incidents arise through poor security.

Revised: December 01, 2004.
Copyright © 1999/2005 Greencore Group plc.
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