legislation & regulations

Ministry of Environment

Hazardous Waste - The Transportation of Hazardous Waste

It is required by law, both federally and provincially, to document the transportation of hazardous waste. The legislation and regulations that are in place were developed to protect our environment and preserve it for future generations to enjoy. The purpose of this update is to clarify how hazardous wastes, are to be transported in the province.

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What are Hazardous Wastes?

Hazardous wastes are waste materials, which, because of their toxic or reactive nature must be handled or disposed of properly to prevent harming people or the environment. Hazardous wastes are defined in Section 1 of the Hazardous Waste Regulation and include ‘dangerous goods’ that are no longer used for their original purpose. Examples include:

  • waste batteries
  • waste oil
  • waste asbestos from buildings
  • waste solvents

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What are the Laws and Regulations?

As a result of the growing public concern about the amount and variety of hazardous wastes that exist, the federal and provincial governments are working together to ensure that these wastes are safely transported.

The federal Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act legislates the management practices for the transportation of dangerous goods, including waste dangerous goods. Each province ensures this happens by requiring documentation to be completed, carried with the shipment at all times and copies then returned to the provincial ministry.

The transportation of Hazardous wastes is governed by other laws as well, including the following:

  • Export and Import of Hazardous Wastes Regulation
  • Environmental Management Act (BC)
  • Hazardous Waste Regulation (BC)

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What Shipping Documents Do I Use?

There are different forms to be completed, depending on the kind of waste being transported and the weight or volume.

For the transportation of Hazardous wastes, consignors of the waste are required to complete a form called a Manifest. The manifest form tracks the movement of Hazardous waste within, into or out of Canada. It documents the type and amounts of waste, who shipped it (the consignor), who transported it (the carrier), who received it (the consignee) and how it was handled. It should be noted that a manifest is not to be used as a continuous shipping document for more than one trip between consignors and consignees. As well, the quantity and description of waste recorded on the manifest must match the waste on the shipment vehicle to be in compliance with the law.

A separate manifest form must be completed for each shipment that is equal to or greater than the minimum threshold amounts shown below.

Hazardous Waste Amount
Solids 5 kg
Liquids 5 litres
Compressed Gases (container capacity) 5 litres
Waste Oil 210 litres
Waste Paint 210 litres
Waste Batteries 1,000 kg
PCB (liquid or solid) 500 g
Carriers wishing to transport hazardous wastes in the amounts equal to or greater then the quantities in the above chart must obtain a Hazardous Waste Transport Licence from the Ministry of Environment.

 

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What about Multiple Collections?

The Ministry, at the request of hazardous waste carriers, developed the Manifest Supplement — Multiple Consignors Form, Schedule 5, Form 3. It is to be used by waste carriers who collect hazardous waste of the same type from more than one consignor and deliver the completed shipment to a single receiving location. The form is intended to reduce paperwork by allowing the carrier to attach the completed multiple consignors form(s) to a single manifest. The Multiple Consignor Form is NOT a shipping document on its own and must be attached to a manifest.

It is imperative that the cumulative total amount of waste in the load be inserted on the multiple consignors’ form (last column on the right) after each pickup throughout the trip. This is a requirement of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act.

Please note that the Manifest Supplement — Multiple Consignors may only be used for a single trip, not for multiple trips. (In this case, 'trip' means the transportation of hazardous waste from one or more consignors to the intended consignee or other intermediary site where the hazardous waste is off-loaded or stored for a period greater than 48 hours.)

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When is a Manifest Form not Required?

A manifest form is NOT required when:

  1. Wastes are not hazardous waste, waste dangerous goods or are specifically exempted such as:
    • dangerous goods that are defective, surplus or not usable for their intended purpose and are being shipped back to the manufacturer,
    • waste asphalt and tar used in the manufacture of asphaltic concrete and roofing materials,
    • radioactive dangerous goods,
    • waste wood products treated with pesticides registered under the Pest Control Products Act),
    • household refuse,
    • domestic sewage.
  2. Quantities of hazardous waste or waste dangerous goods are below the minimum threshold.

For recyclable waste dangerous goods the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act allows the provinces to set higher threshold quantities for within provinces shipments only, provided the manifest is replaced with a Dangerous Goods Shipping Document.

A Manifest form is also NOT required when hazardous wastes are transported:

  • Solely within the property boundaries of the generator for a distance less than 100 km,
  • On a public road for a distance less than 3 km as per S.46(2)(b) of the Hazardous Waste Regulation, or
  • By a homeowner or a farmer from their home or farm directly to a waste management facility authorized by the province.

Special Forms for Used Batteries

As with other hazardous wastes, lead acid batteries must be accompanied by either a Manifest Form or a Shipping Document for Dangerous Goods, depending on the weight of the load.

Shipping Forms Required
Document
Quantity kg
None
< 5
*Shipping Document
5 - 999
*Manifest
> 1,000
*May use a manifest, but not required.

 

However, with waste batteries there is an additional requirement to ensure that participants in the B.C. Lead

Acid Battery Program are transporting batteries originating from B.C. sources. To comply, the following forms must be included with either the Manifest Form or the Shipping Document for Dangerous Goods when a Transportation Incentive Application is submitted:

  • Form 5 - Assembled Load Form
  • Form 8 - Unmanifested Load Record
  • Form 9 - Drop-off Form

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Where Can I Obtain the Forms?

You can purchase the various shipping forms from:

Distribution Centre, Victoria
PO Box 9455 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9V7
Telephone: 250-952-4460
Toll Free 1-800-282-7955
Facsimile: 250-952-4431
Web Page: http://pss.gov.bc.ca/dcv/

The Product List and Order Form is available here.

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Relevant Internet Sites


UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 2006