Drums
There is a well-established drum reconditioning industry which
ensures that steel drums can be re-used - rather than recycled as
scrap metal - with great savings of energy. These are
virtually indistinguishable from new drums. Often
‘milk rounds’ operate, delivering ‘new’ drums and
collecting used ones at the same time. Note that metal drums
containing residues of hazardous materials must be disposed of, or
transferred using the Special Waste Consignment Note system (see
section on Special Wastes) and can be recovered at specialist
drum incinerators.
Unwanted gas cylinders
Nominally empty liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders contain
explosive residues of propane or butane. They must be stored
upright and separate from other materials. Health & Safety
Executive Guidance Note CS4 (£3.25 from HSE) provides a
guide to safe practice for compliance with various statutory
provisions. These are enforced by local authority environmental
health departments (or for factories, the HSE). The
guidance gives requirements on ventilation, positioning,
prohibition of smoking, access restriction, separation from
specified substances and design of storage areas.
Unwanted cylinders remain the legal property of the company named on the cylinder, may not be disposed of as scrap, and must be returned to the nearest authorised dealer and if the original issue document can be produced, a partial refund of any deposit originally paid may be due. Yellow Pages may help, but the situation is complicated by over 140 brand names and cylinders of foreign origin. The LP Gas Association Cylinder Retrieval Scheme was set up to deal with these problems; and can arrange collection by a local representative when at least 20 Liquid Petroleum Gas cylinders have accumulated at an individual site.
Beer kegs and pressure cylinders
Beer kegs and pressure cylinders must also be returned to their
owners; brewery companies are vigilant in prosecuting offenders
through the Joint Brewer Reward Scheme but should also be able to
offer assistance. Carbon dioxide cylinders can fall over causing
a serious hazard - keep them lying flat or chained to a wall.
WASTE RE-USE TIP
Reconditioned drums and re-used cylinders will not attract any
packaging regulations obligations.
WASTE REDUCTION TIP
Ensure that all containers are properly emptied by providing
suitable equipment. Some companies employ drum heaters to help
drain high viscosity materials.
Also see
Legal aspects of waste (Packaging
Waste Regulations) (500)
Alphabetical list of organisations
Blagden Packaging Ltd
Tel 0208 594 5631
Gascoigne Wharf, Alfreds Way, BARKING, Essex IG11
Drum merchant.
Drum Distribution Services Ltd
Tel 0207 474 1100
Unit 3, Charles Street, North, Woolwich, LONDON E16
Drum merchant.
Drum Laundry Services Ltd
Tel 01252 547888 Fax 01252 510641
Lysons Avenue, Ash Vale, ALDERSHOT, Hants GU12 5HQ
Drum reconditioning.
Drums & Tanks Ltd
Tel 01628 676812 Fax 01628 777055
21 Abingdon Walk, MAIDENHEAD, Berks SL6 2FR
Reconditioning and sale of used steel and plastic drums. Selective purchase of quantities in good condition.
Drums and Packaging
Tel 0208 642 9323 / 0208 642 6506
92 Burdon Lane, Cheam, SUTTON, Surrey SM2 7DA
Drum merchant.
Drums and Tanks
Tel 01628 676812 Mobile 0378 020534 Fax 01628 777055
P O Box 495, MAIDENHEAD, Berks SL6 2FR
Secondhand drum dealers. Collect plastic and steel drums nationwide for reconditioning or recycling. Also recondition all sizes of oil tanks.
Federation of Drum Reconditioners Defunct - see
www.serred.org
Gainsford Drums
Tel 0208 520 4576 / 0208 520 3847 Fax 0208 521 0806
51 Gainsford Road, Walthamstow, LONDON E17 6QB
Contact Gary Linard, Managing Director
Supplies, reconditions and recycles drums, tanks and industrial packaging . (Updated June 2004)
Kegwatch
Freephone 0800 289498
c/o Guinness Brewing GB, RUNCORN WA7 3BE
Confidential line for information on stolen aluminium and stainless steel beer kegs and pressurised carbon dioxide cylinders. These remain the property of owner breweries, and may not be sold or disposed of other than to authorised agents. Substantial reward of up to £10,000 offered for information leading to successful prosecution.
LP Gas Association
Tel 01737 224700 Fax 01737 241116
Alma House, Alma Road, REIGATE, Surrey RH2 0AZ
Trade association of companies supplying LP gas and associated equipment operating a free retrieval scheme for cylinders discarded at civic amenity sites, scrap metal depots etc. Collection, which will usually be undertaken within ten working days, can be arranged by contacting one of the following authorised companies, as applicable:
For Calor cylinders only, in accumulated quantities of 3 or more, Tel 01926 318616
For BOC cylinders only, in accumulated quantities of 3 or more, Freephone 0800 111333
For all other brands, including foreign or unidentifiable cylinders, in accumulated mixed quantities of 20 or more, as follows:
Beds & Herts - FloGas Ltd Tel 01530 230352, Fax 01530
230253
Berkshire - HandyGas Ltd Tel 01793 771888, Fax 01793 772253
Bucks & Oxon - SuperGas Ltd Tel 01993 703391, Fax 01993
779384
Essex & London - Shell Gas Ltd) Tel 0208 884 3282, Fax 0208 345 6342
Raines Drums
Tel 0207 511 2785
Unit D, Crescent Wharf, North, Woolwich, LONDON E16
Drum merchant.
Silvertown Pallets Ltd
Tel 0207 473 1205 Fax 01268 418668
Unit 4, Charles Street, North Woolwich, LONDON E16 2BY
Sale, purchase and reconditioning of all types of pallet, steel and plastic drums.
Steel Drums and Containers Ltd
Tel 0208 594 4373
Fresh Wharf Estate, Highbridge Road, BARKING, Essex IG11 7BJ
Drum reconditioning.
Whirlowdale Trading Co Ltd
Tel 01708 866962
The Sawmills, New Road, Wennington, RAINHAM, Essex RM13 9
Sale, purchase and reconditioning of pallets, packing cases, drums and stillages.