Hazardous Waste Regulations
The forthcoming ‘Hazardous Waste Regulations’ will replace the existing Special Waste Regulations (NI) 1998 and will change the definition of special waste to hazardous. The regulations will also introduce revised and more streamlined procedures for monitoring movements of hazardous waste.

Landfill Regulations 2003
From 16th July 2004 the co-disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste in the same landfill is banned. It also introduced the pre-treatment of hazardous waste before landfilling.

The number of sites that can accept hazardous wastes throughout the UK has reduced drastically, and any that do remain have to conform to tight restrictions.

Northern Ireland has no special waste landfill facility at all.

Waste Acceptance Criteria
As of 16th July 2005, the Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) will come into force and will be used by landfill sites to decide whether or not they can accept hazardous waste. Where disposal of waste by landfill is the identified option, waste producers will have to make sure their waste meets the waste acceptance criteria. Basic characterisation tests to determine if waste meets limit values for a particular landfill are therefore essential.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive
The WEEE Directive will mean that it is no longer acceptable to landfill electrical and electronic equipment, including;

• IT and telecommunications equipment
• Audiovisual and lighting equipment
• Electrical and electronic tools
• Household Appliances