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Fuel Quality Protocol Update

The Environment Agency is now in a position to outline the timetable for the full implementation of the Quality Protocol for processing fuel oil (PFO) from waste lubricating oil as follows:

Publication of the Quality Protocol and updated position statement on the Environment Agency’s website on 22 March 2010.

In England and Wales the specification in the Quality Protocol will apply to all supplies of PFO made after midnight on 30 April 2010.

However, although the Quality Protocol requires reportable analyses for metal contents, the associated test methods will not have been finalised at that time. Until these methods are available the requirements for the reporting of the relevant metal test results will not apply.

For users holding stocks of waste derived fuels meeting the Environment Agency interim quality standard from midnight on 30 April 2010, the Environment Agency will not consider these stocks to be waste provided that they are used as fuel before midnight on 31 July 2010. This transitional period, in addition to advance notice about the entry into force of the new Quality Protocol, is being provided in order that operators holding stocks of interim specification fuels are given a reasonable opportunity to phase out these materials. However, stocks must be used by the 31 July deadline, and operators should therefore ensure that their holdings are managed to facilitate this. Stocks held after the deadline will normally be considered to be waste and will therefore be burned unlawfully if the user is not in compliance with the relevant legislation, including the Waste Incineration Directive.

Full implementation – we anticipate that the test methods will have been finalised by 1 October 2010. At this date we will carry out a review of the Agency’s position statement and include a timetable for introducing the new test methods and the respective limits for the required metals analyses .

Click here to see the statement in full.

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