Down to Earth Recycling Ltd

Down To Earth Recycling Ltd

Down To Earth Recycling Ltd

Old Cement Works

Gainsthorpe Road

Kirton Lindsey

Gainsborough

Lincolnshire

ISO9001:2004

ISO14001: 2004

Environmental Management Systems Manual

CONTENTS

0.1Contents

0.2Preface

0.3Company Overview

1Scope

2References

3Definitions

4Environmental Management System (EMS) requirements

4.1General requirements

4.2Environmental Policy

4.3Planning

4.3.1Environmental Aspects

4.3.2Legal and other Requirements

4.3.3Objectives, Targets and Programme(s)

4.4Implementation and operation

4.4.1Resources, Roles, Responsibility and Authority

4.4.2Competence, Training and Awareness

4.4.3Communication

4.4.4Documentation

4.4.5Control of Documents

4.4.6Operational Control

4.4.7Emergency Preparedness and Response

4.5Checking

4.5.1Monitoring and Measurement

4.5.2Evaluation of Compliance

4.5.3Nonconformity, Corrective Action and Preventive Action

4.5.4Control of Records

4.5.5Internal Audit

4.6Management Review

5Annexes

5.1Environmental Policy Statement

5.2Management Procedures Summary

5.3Organisation and Job Duties & Responsibilities

5.4Environmental Legislation Register

0.2PREFACE

Down To Earth Recycling Ltdbelieves that responsible leadership of the natural environment is essential for business efficiency and success.

The Environment Manual sets out the policy and commitments that give power and action to that belief. It is a signpost to the arrangements and procedures for environmental control.

To provide structure and coordination for the Environmental Policy and actions, the International Standard for Environmental Management Systems, ISO 14001:2004 has been selected as the basis of the management system.

The Environment Manual and all documentation and data of the Environmental Management System are confidential and may not be reproduced in whole or part by any means, transmitted, or translated into machine language without the written permission of the organization.

Uncontrolled copies of the Environment Manual are available to customers, external auditing organizations and other interested parties at the discretion of the organization.

0.3COMPANY OVERVIEW

We are a British recycling business (since April 2006) We offer a range of services from accepting Wood Waste, Green waste, Waste Plasterboard and Non-hazardous Liquid to supplying various graded woods for different market requirements, certified organic compost for horticulture, agricultural compost and gypsum for agriculture. Our aim is to build our business through repeat sales and recommendations and to offer our customers total reliability through our full compliance with Environmental regulations and unrivalled quality with a first class service.

Down To Earth Recycling Ltd have been providing a recycling service for the local authorities, local businesses and national companies for the last 9 years. We are strong advocates in recycling materials and producing a consistently high quality material for end use. Our market for supplying Graded, dust free wood for Bio-mas boilers is growing through the satisfaction of our customers and their recommendations with enquiries coming in nationally.

We are PAS 100 accredited for our high quality compost for horticulture which we have been producing for 6 years. The Green Waste that is used to produce this product is kerbside collections from two different local authorities is Lincolnshire.

Our recycled plasterboard is processed to produce agricultural Gypsum. We are in consultation with the Environment Agency to achieve end of waste status which will enable us to offer this material to our customers as a product which would come with the confidence of having full compliance with Environmental regulations.

We receive one Non-hazardous liquid which is composted with clean graded wood and green waste to produce our agricultural compost. We have great growing results with a number of large farms in Lincolnshire who request deliveries of our compost year on year.

We are proud of our recycling achievements and the only waste that leaves our company is plastic which we forward for recycling thus ensuring that all materials accepted by our company are returned to the land.

1.0SCOPE

The Environmental Management System manages all operations and activities associated with the acceptance of materials, processing different stream of materials to supply of products undertaken by Down To Earth Recycling Ltd based at The Old Cement Works, Gainsthorpe Road, Kirton Lindsey, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 4JH.

2.0 REFERENCES

The Environmental Management System (EMS) complies with the International Standard:

.

ISO 14001:2004

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS – REQUIREMENTS WITH GUIDANCE FOR USE.

.

The EMS is consistent with guidance provided in other supporting standards, in particular:

.

ISO 14004:2004

Environmental management systems - General guidelines on principles, systems and support techniques.

.

ISO 19011:2002

Guidelines for quality and/or environmental management systems auditing.

3.0DEFINITIONS

All terms used in the Environmental Management System (EMS) are consistent with the terms and definitions used in the ISO 14000 series of Standards and in Section 3 (Definitions) of ISO 14001:2004.Definitions stated below are those necessary for understanding special terms in this EMS. Some definitions are additional to those in the ISO 14000 series.

Environmental Aspect

Any element of the organization’s activities, products or services that can interact with the environment.

Environmental Impact

Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from the organizations’ activities, products or services.

Significant Environmental Aspect

An environmental aspect that has, or can have, a significant environmental impact.

Significant

Of notable importance in this context used to denote those environmental aspects in relative terms that warrant management action.

Interested party

Individual, or group, concerned with, or affected by, the environmental performance of the organisation.

Environmental Management Representative (EMR)

The individual responsible for coordinating the Environmental Management System operation and ensuring that it satisfies the requirements of the International Standard, ISO14001:2004, i.e. the Quality, Safety & Technical Officer.

Environmental Management Team (EMT)

Managing Director, Company Director, Company Secretaryand Quality, Safety & Technical Officerhave executive authority for ensuring that the Environmental Policy is implemented effectively.

The Organisation

Down To Earth Recycling Ltd in its entirety.

Scope

Range or extent of coverage. In this context used to define the activities, products and services included in the Environmental Management System.

Down To Earth Recycling Ltd

4.0ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

4.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Environmental management is an integral part of overall management.The Environmental Management System (EMS) is based on proven management principles and practices. It is an organising framework that is continually monitored and periodically reviewed in response to changing internal and external factors. The system is documented to consolidate the environmental controls, assist communication and implementation, and to facilitate auditing and review.

Every individual is responsible for environmental improvement.Suppliers and contractors must have environmental awareness and appropriate controls. Customers are made aware of the environmental benefits of reusing packaging products, or disposing of them in an environmentally suitable way.The EMS complies with ISO 14001:2004. The core system is based on 5 principles:

• A clear Environmental Policy is the focus of the EMS. Management and employees are committed to achieving the policy
• A comprehensive plan of action supports achievement of the Environmental Policy
• Senior management provides the resources, including human and financial resources, for effective environmental management. The EMS includes systematic controls and procedures for the application of the resources
• Environmental performance and the effectiveness of controls are continuously monitored and evaluated. Corrective action is taken if necessary
• The EMS is reviewed and continually improved with the aim of improving overall environmental performance

Initially, the organisation should establish its baseline position with regard to the environment by means of an initialEnvironmental Management Review as a basis for establishing the EMS.

4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

.COMMITMENT

To conduct the operations to a clear and consistent policy for environmental protection.

Environmental management is based on four commitments:

• Compliance with relevant environmental legislation and regulations as a minimum performance standard
• Prevention of pollution
• Continual improvement of the Environmental Management System (EMS) to achieve improved environmental performance.
• Provision of adequate resources for effective environmental management.

The Environmental Manager has defined an Environmental Policy that includes these commitments and sets out the intentions and principles for environmental performance. The policy complies with the requirements of ISO14001 and provides a framework to set objectives and targets for environmental improvement.

A statement of the policy is published and communicated to all employees and made available on request to the public. Suppliers and contractors are made aware of the environmental expectations of their products, services and operations.

The policy is reviewed at annual Management Review to ensure it remains appropriate to the environmental impacts of the activities, products and services and continues to fulfill aims for environmental protection. It is also reviewed for consistency with other management policies.

.

Down To Earth Recycling Ltd

.4.3PLANNING

4.3.1ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

.COMMITMENT

To identify elements of activities, products and services that can cause impact on the environment due to pollution, or use of natural resources, and to set priorities for action to reduce these risks.

The Environmental Management System (EMS) controls the elements of the activities, products and services that can, or do cause a significant impact on the environment. These elements that cause the greatest damage or risk are the 'significant environmental aspects'. They are the focus of attention in the setting and review of environmental objectives for improvement. The aim is to minimise environmental risk.

To determine the significant environmental aspects, all activities, products and services in the scope (see section 1) of the EMS are considered. Significant impacts can occur in the area of direct control and in the sphere of influence exerted over key suppliers and, to a lesser extent, customers. Consideration is given to environmental aspects under normal operating conditions, abnormal conditions such as start-up, shutdown and maintenance, and potential emergency conditions.

The predicted environmental aspects of proposed new developments are also identified and actions included in management programmes to ensure control of associated environmental risks.

The Management Procedure for Environmental Aspects (EP01) includes a practical risk-based methodology for estimating the relative importance of the significant environmental aspects on the business and the environment. This facilitates the setting of priorities in the objectives and targets for improvement.

.

Down To Earth Recycling Ltd

.4.3.2LEGAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

.

COMMITMENT

To identify and maintain access to relevant environmental legislation and regulations, and to other requirements to which the management have decided to subscribe.

Legislation that applies to the actual or potential, environmental impacts of the organisation is relevant. It includes EU, national and local laws.

Management Procedures provide a practical means of identification and access to current legislation and information on proposed legislation. This is interpreted for its application to the activities, products and services. The procedures aim to provide understanding and legal compliance at all times and to cope with incidents and emergencies that may threaten compliance.

Information is communicated internally to provide an awareness of legal obligations. Responsibility and authorities are defined to achieve and maintain legal compliance.

A principal aim of internal audit and Management Review procedures is to maintain the effectiveness of procedures for understanding and fulfillment of legal obligations.

.

.

4.3.3 OBJECTIVES, TARGETS AND PROGRAMME(S)

.COMMITMENT

To meet policy commitments of legal compliance, prevention of pollution and continual improvement of performance through environmental management objectives and targets.

The Senior Management provides adequate personnel and other resources for the establishment and achievement of the objectives, and reviews achievement at annual Management Review.To ensure that objectives and targets are realistic and achievable, responsible managers consider a wide range of issues and information when establishing and reviewing objectives.Factors included are:

• Legal requirements
• Significant environmental aspects
• Technical and technological options
• Financial resources and constraints
• Operational requirements
• Market and other business requirements
• Views of interested parties

Environmental objectives are established in all relevant functions and must be compatible with overall business objectives. Implementation and achievement of objectives and targets is coordinated in management programmes that define responsibility and timeframes for completion.Management programmes are established by the Managing Director (Environmental Management Representative) and subject to regular review by the Environment Management Team.

.

PROCEDURES

OP12: ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS, OBJECTIVES, TARGETS AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES.

REFERENCES:

ISO 14001:2004, REQUIREMENT 4.3.3: OBJECTIVES, TARGETS AND PROGRAM(S).

4.4 IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION

4.4.1 RESOURCES, ROLES, RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY

COMMITMENT

To define the structure, responsibility and authorities of the management team for effective environmental control. Also, to provide adequate resources to implement and control the Environmental Management System (EMS).

The Directors provide financial and human resources to implement new technology, training and specialised skills needed to maintain all environmental controls and compliance with the requirements of ISO14001. In particular, the Quality, Safety & Technical Officerhas the role ofEnvironmental Management Representative for all environmental issues.

Environmental objectives are built into managers' priorities. Their actions are coordinated by the Environmental Management Representative, who reports to theEnvironmental Management Team and has specific responsibility and authority for:

• Coordinating EMS implementation and compliance with ISO 14001 requirements
• Reporting to the Environmental Management Team on environmental performance to facilitate Management Review, continual improvement of the EMS and improved environmental performance

.

4.4.2 COMPETENCE, TRAINING AND AWARENESS

.COMMITMENT

To ensure all employees are competent to implement the Environmental Policy.

All personnel are trained to:

• Fulfill their Environmental Management System (EMS) responsibilities
• Be aware of how their actions can influence environmental impact

Training plans and activities are based on a comprehensive training-needs analysis. In particular, personnel whose work can influence the significant environmental aspects are trained to understand and manage the associated environmental risks. Environmental awareness and EMS requirements are included in the induction training of all new employees.

When required, advice is offered to suppliers and contractors to enable them to understand and implement environmental expectations of their products and services.

All training needs are reviewed on a routine basis to meet the changing needs of environmental management.

.

.

Down To Earth Recycling Ltd

4.4.3 COMMUNICATION

.COMMITMENT

To maintain effective Environmental Management System (EMS) communications and information on environmental aspects

Internal communications are established between all functions and levels to ensure:

• Understanding of Environmental Policy and objectives
• Feedback of operational experience and performance to management

External communication systems provide public access to the Environmental Policy statement and ensure efficient and constructive response to inquiries and complaints from interested parties. In particular, decisions are recorded for all external communications related to significant environmental aspects.

Communication channels and methods are built into all procedures to ensure transfer of information and data.

.

4.4.4 DOCUMENTATION

.COMMITMENT

To establish and maintain a series of documents that describes the structure and operation of the Environmental Management System (EMS). The documentation includes Management Procedures, data and records required by ISO14001. Additional procedures are included to ensure consistent methods, effective controls, comprehensive records and where their absence could result in failure to comply with the Environmental Policy. The system comprises:

Environment Policy Manual - states the policy on the environment and outlines key management controls. It is a focus for the EMS and refers to related documentation, in particular to Management Procedures.

Management Procedures - relate to the requirements of ISO14001 and describe how commitments in the Environment Manual are implemented. Management Procedures define responsibility and authorities, methods, communications, decisions and records. They refer to related documentation, including Operational Procedures and Records.

Operational Procedures - describe how specific wastes and processes operate, including responsibility and authorities, planning, communications, work programmes and methods. Operational Procedures are written and used in situations when their absence could result in failure to comply with Environmental Policy and the objectives and targets.

Records - record information and data essential to the EMS. They demonstrate compliance with policy, procedures and legal and other requirements. External documentation including correspondence from interested parties also creates records.

Down To Earth Recycling Ltd