AS governments in the UK implement their net zero policies, the number of heat pump installations is increasing year on year but as the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) recent 7th carbon budget report made clear, a dramatic further increase in the deployment of heat pumps will be needed to hit climate targets.
The CCC has recommended that, by 2030, 450,000 must be installed every year, and by 2035, 1.5 million.
Many could be as replacements for liquid fuel heating systems, which means thousands of plastic and steel fuel storage tanks will require safe disposal. Decommissioning and removing existing fuel storage tanks poses a serious pollution risk, and such work needs to be very carefully planned and executed.
As the deployment of clean heating accelerates, so the need for this type of specialist hazardous waste disposal services will inevitably grow. This is a little discussed aspect of the net zero challenge and one that, to date, the government has shown little awareness of, or appetite to address. Given the environmental consequences of not doing this correctly, we can only hope that this changes soon.
OFTEC recommends that this work is done by a company registered as a tank installer with a Competent Person Scheme, as they will have appropriate knowledge for the task.
- To underline the specialist nature of this task, prior to work commencing, contractors should as a minimum:
- Have appropriate insurance.
- Complete a risk assessment and method statement.
- Wear appropriate PPE.
- Have a means of safely removing all fuel from the tank (if electrically powered pumps are used, these must be suitably rated for use in an explosive atmosphere).
- Have robust containers to receive the fuel.
- Have a waste carriers licence that covers the movement of hazardous material
- Ensure any vehicle transporting fuel is driven by a dangerous goods (ADR) qualified driver who has flammable liquid qualifications
- Be able to inform the customer of the hazardous waste disposal site the tank/fuel will be taken to.
- Ensure they have a spill kit ready to deal with any accidental leakage.
Tanks should be removed from site as soon as they are decommissioned to prevent accidental filling. Fuel removed from tanks cannot be sold to others. Only businesses who are a registered dealer in controlled oils can do this.
Plastic tanks will absorb fuel over time, which is why they should only be sent to a waste disposal site licenced to handle hazardous materials. All tanks, steel or plastic, should not be recycled unless the recycling site is licensed to take hazardous waste.
As steel tanks are very heavy, it can be tempting to consider cutting them up for easier removal. Dismantling or cutting up any tank is an exceptionally dangerous activity which
should only be undertaken by specialist contractors who have the correct equipment, expertise, and insurance. People have been killed or seriously injured during such activities.
Underground storage tanks pose an even greater challenge and there is a very high risk of pollution occurring during their decommissioning and removal. This task should only be undertaken by specialist companies.
In many cases, when a tank is removed the associated fuel supply pipes and appliance will become redundant and should also be removed. This equipment should be carefully drained, transported and disposed of in the same manner as the fuel storage tank.
The size of tanks used at non-domestic sites means they will likely require far more stringent processes than those described above, including the use of gas detectors, fume extraction, cold-cutting techniques, pressure washing, gas-freeing, and post removal soil sampling. Any contractor engaged to do this work must be familiar with these processes and have all the necessary working safeguards in place.
