According to Statistics Norway a total of 1.2 million tonnes of hazardous waste was handled according to approved treatment in 2010. This was a 14 per cent growth from the previous year. Almost the entire increase was due to more hazardous waste from the oil and gas industry.

Overall there has been a significant growth in the recorded amounts of hazardous waste since 1999. This is partly explained by the fact that the list of hazardous waste has been considerably extended. In addition the data basis has improved. The real growth in waste amounts is therefore less than the statistics show.

Less hazardous waste is handled in unknown ways

Statistics Norway calculates that around 74.000 tonnes of hazardous waste was handled in unknown ways in 2010. These estimates are somewhat uncertain.

Some of this waste may have been mixed with non-hazardous waste, discharged into the sewers or dumped directly into the environment. However, hazardous waste that is delivered to approved treatment is not always registered correctly. The Climate and Pollution Agency therefore supposes that parts of the 74.000 tonnes may still have been handled in approved treatment facilities.

Since the peak in 2004, the quantity of the hazardous waste treated in unknown ways has declined by 36 per cent. The main causes are increased collection of oil-contaminated hazardous waste and less creosote-containing wood astray.

It appears that the households have become better at delivering hazardous waste to approved treatment. According to Statistics Norway, the households delivered 31.000 tonnes in 2010, an increase of 2.000 tonnes from the previous year.

Hazardous waste contains health- environmental hazardous substances. Hazardous waste can spread harmful substances and accumlate in the environment via leachate of contaminated water from landfills, or via emissions from the flue gases, ash or slag from incineration plants. Hazardous waste which is disposed in the drain may cause dispersal of harmful substances in the environment

When hazardous waste is collected and treated in a proper manner, we avoid the spreading of hazardous substances in the environment.

The share reckoned as hazardous waste increases

Today we have better knowledge of the hazardous properties of substances and what products they are used in than earlier. This has led to an increase in the amounts of waste that are classified as hazardous waste.

The volume of waste in a society is closely related to its level of consumption. A growth in consumption translates into a growth in waste. It also means more hazardous waste, especially waste from consumer products. The amounts of hazardous waste generated are also closely related to the development in business and industry. In Norway, we have experienced a considerable increase in the amounts of hazardous waste generated by the offshore industry in the 1990s.

A number of measures are employed to promote proper handling of hazardous waste, including special regulations, inspections and audits, industry-specific schemes, return schemes, taxes and information.

Regulations

Under the Pollution Control Act the competent Norwegian authorities have issued regulations concerning hazardous waste. These define waste categories and lay down rules for permits to manage hazardous waste, the obligation to deliver hazardous waste, declaration, the responsibilities of the municipalities, packaging, inspection and audit.

Many other provisions govern specific types of hazardous waste and associated problems, including batteries, waste oil, oily water, photographic chemicals, amalgam, PCBs, CFCs, brominated flame retardants, fire and explosion hazards, export and import, chemicals in general, warning labels and health, environmental and safety activities in enterprises ("internal control").

Permits and licences

A permit is normally required from the competent pollution control authorities before a contractor may process hazardous waste. The Climate and Pollution Agency issues permits for collection and processing of hazardous waste, whilst the county governor issues permits for the reception and temporary storage of hazardous waste. The permits specify criteria that must be met to ensure proper handling.

Control and inspection

The pollution control authorities supervise and inspect all handling of hazardous waste.

Return schemes

Various industry-specific schemes and taxes are also used for hazardous waste. One provides a refund when waste oil is delivered to approved facilities. Another is an auto-industry return scheme for lead accumulators and old insulating windows containing PCB.

Another example is the return schemes that provide consumers free delivery of electrical/electronic (EE) waste. Consumers may deliver personal computers, mobile telephones and so on to the distributors of such products who in turn are obliged to collect them. The harmful components are segregated for special collection.