The RDF Industry Group has officially launched its sector-specific Fire Prevention Plan (FPP) guidance at its members’ meeting in London yesterday (6 June).
The guidance has been compiled by the Group and aims to provide advice on the development of FPPs for residual waste and refuse derived fuel (RDF), and is the only specific guidance of its kind for those operating in the residual waste sector.
It was developed in consultation with the Environment Agency (EA) to supplement its standard Fire Prevention Plan guidance for waste.
The guidance draws on the experience of members who operate permitted sites and shares good practice on fire planning for sites accepting residual waste.
It has been structured to sit alongside the EA’s official FPP guidance and provides discussion and advice on how waste operators can comply with these requirements and manage their overall fire risk.
“We hope the guidance will assist with addressing some of the nuances around waste storage and monitoring and waste pile management, enabling operators to develop FPPs in line with current good practices.”
Peter Buckley, Senior Fire Advisor with the Environment Agency, said:“Following on from specific guidance produced for other parts of the waste sector, we are pleased that the RDF Industry Group has produced guidance specific to residual waste and made this available to the wider industry.
“We hope this guidance will enable residual waste operators to produce high quality FPPs and ensure that any alternative measures proposed meet the three core objectives set out in the EA’s guidance.
“The RDF Industry Group has fully engaged with the EA in open dialogue and has been able to produce this document in a relative short timescale.
“The EA would encourage other industry groups and associations to take a similar approach for their respective sectors.”
Robert Corijn, Chair of the RDF Industry Group, said:“We would like to thank everyone at the EA, as well as the Group’s FPP working group, for getting us to this point.
“We hope the guidance will assist with addressing some of the nuances around waste storage and monitoring and waste pile management, enabling operators to develop FPPs in line with current good practices.”
The guidance:
- is relevant to everyone that operates residual waste sites;
- explains the rationale behind regulatory decisions;
- provides suggestions, hints and tips for developing FPPs;
- poses questions operators may want to consider regarding their sites; and
- gives examples based on the experience of those working in the waste management industry.
Fire Prevention Plans
Fire Prevention Plans are a requirement in England for all new waste permits, all permits being varied and all sites which have experienced a fire.
Since 2010 the export of RDF for treatment in spare energy-from-waste capacity on the continent has increased rapidly.
The Group says RDF export is a “vital and flexible part of the UK’s waste management system”, accounting for the treatment of approximately 14% of the UK’s residual waste.
This guidance is intended to be used in the development of FPPs for residual waste, including baled and loose residual material and refuse derived fuel (RDF).
It further develops the good practice outlined in the Group’s Code of Practice.
The new publication Residual Waste Fore Prevention Plan (FPP) Guidance is available to download for free here.
