Environment Agency: Hazardous Waste Spreadsheet Issue Halts Submissions

• The Environment Agency's hazardous waste consignee returns spreadsheet is currently unavailable for submissions due to a technical fault.
• An update to Microsoft’s security settings has interfered with essential components of the spreadsheet, causing the disruption.
• Consignees in England are instructed to retain all records of hazardous waste received or disposed of for later submission.
• The spreadsheet, identified as LIT 6866, is used for mandatory quarterly reporting and has undergone several updates, including making the 'Waste Permit Number' field mandatory.
• The Environment Agency will contact past consignees and update its website once a solution is found and submissions can resume. Operators must also continue to complete hazardous waste consignee returns even with the introduction of the new Digital Waste Tracking system.

Submissions using this essential tool are currently suspended due to a technical fault stemming from recent updates to Microsoft’s security settings, which have inadvertently interfered with critical components of the spreadsheet.

The Environment Agency (EA) has announced a significant disruption to its hazardous waste reporting system, specifically impacting the consignee returns spreadsheet. Submissions using this essential tool are currently suspended due to a technical fault stemming from recent updates to Microsoft’s security settings, which have inadvertently interfered with critical components of the spreadsheet. This issue means that consignees are presently unable to file their mandatory quarterly reports detailing hazardous waste received or disposed of at their premises in England.

In light of this Environment Agency hazardous waste spreadsheet issue, the EA has issued clear instructions to all affected parties. Consignees must diligently maintain all necessary records during this period of unavailability. These records will be required for submission once a resolution is found and the system is restored. The agency has committed to proactively contacting past consignees and updating its official channels as soon as the hazardous waste spreadsheet technical fault is rectified and submissions can resume.

The consignee returns spreadsheet, identified by reference LIT 6866, serves as the primary mechanism for facilities in England to report their hazardous waste activities. This MS Excel Spreadsheet, with a file size of 1.98 MB, requires quarterly submissions detailing the types and quantities of hazardous waste that have been either received or disposed of at a given site. Users are advised to consult the comprehensive guidance on completing their consignee return before attempting to use the spreadsheet, which also incorporates a dedicated privacy notice.

While this specific spreadsheet applies to England, the broader regulatory landscape for hazardous waste management across Great Britain necessitates stringent reporting. The EA's system ensures compliance and provides crucial data for environmental oversight. It is important to note that the file may not be fully compatible with all assistive technologies, a consideration for users requiring such accommodations.

The hazardous waste consignee returns spreadsheet has undergone several revisions to adapt to evolving legislative and technical requirements. Notably, amendments were implemented to accommodate 2015 and subsequent return dates, alongside updates to European Waste Catalogue (EWC) codes and hazardous properties, which became effective from July 1, 2015. Further changes in September 2016 addressed a previous technical fault, making that updated version mandatory for use from September 9, 2016, and introducing a mandatory 'Waste Permit Number' field.

More recently, the spreadsheet was updated to include the consignee returns privacy notice and a direct link to usage information. Premises registration information was removed from the form due to changes in legislation. Additionally, guidance pertaining to the submission of 2025 returns was removed after the relevant deadline passed and the data had been processed and quality assured, indicating ongoing maintenance and responsiveness to reporting cycles.

The current EA hazardous waste reporting problem underscores the critical importance of robust record-keeping for all entities involved in the management of hazardous waste. Compliance officers and legal teams advising on environmental regulations in England must ensure their clients are fully aware of the temporary submission halt and the imperative to retain all pertinent documentation. The quarterly reporting cycle for hazardous waste received or disposed of at premises remains a statutory obligation, even if the submission mechanism is temporarily unavailable.

The Environment Agency has indicated that it will update the relevant page and directly communicate with past consignees once a solution to the Microsoft security settings spreadsheet interference is implemented. This proactive communication aims to guide users on when and how to submit their accumulated records. Stakeholders should therefore closely monitor official EA announcements for updates regarding the resolution of this technical issue and the resumption of normal reporting procedures. It is important to note that while a new Digital Waste Tracking system is being introduced, operators must continue to complete hazardous waste consignee returns alongside it.

Compliance officers and legal teams advising on environmental regulations in GB must be aware that the Environment Agency's hazardous waste consignee returns spreadsheet is currently unavailable for submissions due to a technical fault. They should ensure clients retain all necessary records for future submission and monitor the EA's updates for a resolution.

Source: Original reporting via GOV.UK