HS&E Operatives practice question: Waste and environmental responsibilities (1 of 7)
A. Working environment A free question from our original HS&E Operatives practice exam. Try it, then open the answer to see why each option is right or wrong.
Someone in a van stops at the site gate. They offer to take away a skip-load of waste for cash, much cheaper than the usual firm. They can't show any paperwork.
What should happen?
Choose one answer.
AA. Turn them down; waste must go to a registered carrier
BB. Accept, as long as none of the waste is hazardous
CC. Accept, as long as they give you a receipt
DD. Accept, as the site is no longer responsible once it leaves
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: A
A. Right: Right. Anyone who produces waste has a legal "duty of care" to make sure it goes only to someone allowed to take it. Waste carriers must be registered with the environment regulator.
B. Wrong: Wrong. The duty of care applies to all waste, not just hazardous waste. Ordinary waste that is fly-tipped is still illegal and still traced back to the site.
C. Wrong: Wrong. A receipt is not proof that the carrier is registered. Waste should move with proper paperwork, such as a waste transfer note, to a registered carrier.
D. Wrong: Wrong. The duty of care does not end at the gate. If waste is dumped illegally, the business that produced it can be held responsible.
Explanation
Waste must only be handed to a registered waste carrier, with the right paperwork. If someone offers to take waste away cheaply with no paperwork, say no and tell your supervisor.