Waste & Waste Disposal Procedure

Control waste without allowing accumulation or contamination

Waste disposal is controlled under Site Management oversight, with Production Personnel carrying out day-to-day activities. The procedure requires waste at generation points, storage areas and transfer points to remain within controlled holding capacity, while handling arrangements maintain separation from raw materials, work in progress, finished products and food-contact surfaces.

Waste areas are also kept clean, waste is removed promptly and exposure of waste materials is avoided to control pest attraction. These requirements develop the procedure’s core position that waste handling and disposal must meet legal requirements without creating conditions that could affect product safety, site hygiene or the environment.

Keep waste containers and storage areas suitable for hygienic use

Internal and external waste containers, together with rooms used for waste storage, are managed as part of the waste-control system. Containers and waste areas must be clearly identifiable, and where appropriate containers are dedicated and differentiated for materials that may present a contamination risk.

The procedure also addresses practical condition and capacity controls. Waste containers and handling areas are designed for safe use without spillage or exposure risks; surfaces remain accessible and suitable for cleaning; and, where disinfection is required, the condition of containers and associated areas must support it. Engineering Personnel maintain and repair waste infrastructure, while Production Personnel keep it clean and usable.

Production Management determines emptying frequencies from waste generation rates and storage capacity so that accumulation, overflow, spillage, pest attraction and contamination risks do not develop. External waste containers are kept covered or closed when not in use.

Control removal from open product areas

The procedure gives Production Management oversight of waste removal from open product areas and requires Production Personnel to carry out that removal in a controlled manner so product safety is not compromised.

Movement of waste within the facility is governed by the separate Layout, Product Flow & Segregation Procedure. This interface keeps the current document focused on waste handling and disposal while linking open-product-area removal to the wider controls for site flow and segregation.

Approve licensed waste providers and retain disposal evidence

Where waste removal is subject to legal licensing requirements, Technical Management is responsible for ensuring that waste management service providers are approved through the Supplier & Raw Material Approval and Performance Monitoring Procedure. Valid licensing status forms part of that approval, and only service providers on the approved supplier list are used.

Production Personnel record each waste removal at the time of collection as evidence that waste has been transferred from the site. Technical Management ensures those records are available for audit and demonstrate compliant disposal, with record completion, retention and control governed by the Record Completion & Maintenance Procedure.

Control specialist destruction of unsafe or trademarked material

Where unsafe products or substandard trademarked materials are sent off-site for destruction or disposal, the procedure requires Technical Management to use a specialist provider whose capability has been approved. Specialist waste-management providers used for this purpose are controlled through the same supplier-approval framework and approved supplier list.

Technical Management obtains and retains a record of each transfer confirming receipt of the material for destruction or disposal. Records from the third party include the quantity collected, allowing the quantities removed from site to be reconciled. This provides a defined evidence route for materials whose disposal requires additional control.

Allocate responsibility across waste control

Senior Management provides the resources, infrastructure and external services needed for effective waste handling and disposal. Technical or Quality Management establishes and maintains the waste-disposal control system, oversees site practices, approves licensed waste contractors and manages third-party providers used for destruction or disposal.

Production Management implements the controls in production areas, oversees removal from open product areas and supervises production personnel. Production Personnel carry out handling, segregation and removal, maintain containers and storage areas, follow defined emptying arrangements and record removals. Engineering Management and Engineering Personnel maintain waste infrastructure so that cleaning and, where required, disinfection remain effective, while all employees are expected to follow site requirements and report issues that could affect product safety or site hygiene.

Connect waste control to the wider FSQMS

The procedure is designed to work with the wider FSQMS without taking over controls defined elsewhere. Record completion and retention are governed by the record-control procedure; approval and monitoring of external providers sit within supplier approval; waste movement within the facility is controlled through layout, product flow and segregation; and where damage or deterioration of waste infrastructure affects control effectiveness, corrective action is managed through the Corrective & Preventive Action Procedure.

Training for personnel involved in managing, approving, verifying, reviewing, implementing, monitoring, maintaining or carrying out waste activities is managed through the Training & Competence Procedure. These interfaces connect waste disposal with site standards, movement controls, provider approval, record control and competence across the wider FSQMS.