BMRA provides landfill guidance for UK shredder operators

The guidance highlights current and future options for treatment and disposal of MSR and operators’ regulatory requirements.

a material handler prepares to load a car onto a conveyor leading to a shredder

Tina | stock.adobe.com

The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA), the voice of the U.K. metals recycling industry, has released a new document, “Landfill Guidance for Shredder Operators.”

Aimed at metal recycling operations that shred and process end-of-life vehicles, household appliances and other metals, it concerns the landfilling of metal shredder residue (MSR).

The guidance highlights current and future options for treatment and disposal of MSR and operators’ regulatory requirements.

“The regulatory position statement RPS 314 is scheduled to be withdrawn by 31 March 2026,” BMRA Technical Director Howard Bluck says. “If that happens, many MSRs would only be allowed to be landfilled at sites permitted for hazardous waste. We are working closely with EA colleagues to consider the impact of this as we believe much of this material is unlikely to meet hazardous waste landfill waste acceptance criteria (WAC).”

He adds, “It is important for shredder operators to understand the classification of their MSR and any business and financial implications that this may have when disposing of this material.”

The guidance is available to all shredder operators in the U.K. and can be obtained by contacting the BMRA at admin@recyclemetals.org