Environmental management
The OCs are required to operate an environmental management system (EMS) in accordance with BS EN ISO 14001. The standard requires that an organisation’s EMS must include:
• An environmental policy.
• Provision for identification of aspects that could have a significant impact on the environment.
• Documented environmental objectives and targets.
The objectives and targets should include a commitment to prevention of pollution, compliance with applicable legal requirements and continual improvement.
5.5 Environmental management
Each of the OCs has established an EMS and PAG has monitored and audited their performance throughout the year.
NE – BEAR
BEAR was slow to establish the fully functional EMS which was required at the commencement of the 3G contract in April 2007. However, prompted by the issue of two NNCs, there was a significant improvement during the year.
The OC set two strategic environmental objectives for 2007. These were to:
• Achieve certification to ISO 14001: 2004
• Improve the effectiveness of waste control.
The first stage assessment for certification has been completed and certification is expected to be achieved during 2008. Provided BEAR implements the improvements indicated in its action plan, certification should be achievable.
BEAR employs a waste management
sub-contractor, to handle the collection
of waste arising from its operations, for
disposal or recycling and to provide regular reports on waste quantities and compliance issues. However, there have been isolated problems concerning the control of waste streams prior to collection.
Following the issue of a NNC, BEAR took some action to improve the environmental management of the depot, but did not entirely resolve the issue.
BEAR’s slow progress on these issues resulted in the issue of a further NNC. BEAR responded promptly by producing an action plan to address the issues by March 2008, which should bring about a marked improvement in its performance.
SE – BEAR
BEAR has developed a single EMS which is being implemented in NE and SE.
An audit in SE during the early part of 2008 found BEAR had significantly improved the implementation of its EMS and maintenance of its depots from the start of the contract.
Whilst the objective of certification to ISO 14001:2004 has not yet been achieved, BEAR has been working with its certification body throughout the year with the aim of attaining this in 2008.
BEAR employed the same organisation as NE to manage the collection of waste for disposal or recycling. This arrangement was seen to be working well at Burghmuir and Bilston Glen depots, where all waste types are collected and segregated into skips or storage bays before collection by the sub-contractor.
However, a visit to the Burghmuir depot during the course of the year identified a number of issues that required attention from BEAR.
A subsequent visit to the depot found that these issues had been rectified and other improvements made.
NW – Scotland TranServ
Scotland TranServ was successfully added to the scope of its parent company certification to ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems in March 2008.
