Do I need a premises code?

There are two ways you can operate to handle and remove recovered refrigerant from a serviced site:

 

1)      One-Off Recovered Refrigerant Removal Operation

You can remove recovered refrigerant as a one-off operation, servicing a specific site – recover refrigerant, remove it from the site and transfer it to a wholesaler, refrigerant distributor or reclaimer. If you are removing less than 500kg from that site in any 12 month period, you do not require a Premises Code for that site but –

a)      You must keep any recovered refrigerant from that site totally separate from any other recovered refrigerant and transfer it to a wholesaler, distributor, or reclaimer as a totally separate consignment of recovered refrigerant – It must not be placed in cylinders with recovered refrigerant from other sites.

b)      You must keep a detailed record of all the hazardous waste, including recovered refrigerant removed by you or any other person from that specific site in any 12 month period and if the amount you intend to remove is likely to reach or exceed 500kg ­-

You (or the site owner) must obtain a Premises Code for that specific site before you remove any further recovered refrigerant that amounts to 500 kg or more of the total 12 month Hazardous Waste removal inventory for that site.

2)      Operation as a Mobile Service

You can operate as a hazardous waste MOBILE SERVICE, which allows you to collect amounts less that 500 kg from any site you service, collecting all the recovered refrigerant together and handling it as a single quantity, but:

a)      You must have a Premises Code for your own business site, before you start.

b)      You must produce a Consignment Note for each site visited, detailing the amount recovered and removed from that site and quoting your own Premises Code.

c)      You must keep a detailed record of all the hazardous waste including the recovered refrigerant that you remove from each site in any 12 month period. If the amount you remove is likely to reach, or exceed 500kg You must then treat the site as a totally separate removal operation (see 1 above) and

ii)       You (or the site owner) must obtain a Premises Code for that specific site before you remove any further recovered refrigerant that amounts to 500kg or more from that site in the 12 month period – (see 1 above).

When you contact the Environment Agency for a Premises Code

You must inform them if you intend to operate as a mobile service as you must have a Premises Code for your business site before you start.  Without this information the Environment Agency may assume you are carrying out a single waste movement, which if below 500kg is exempt from the need for a Premises Code – see 1) above, and if you then operate as a mobile service you will be operating illegally and face possible prosecution.