The transport of hazardous waste is governed by a particularly strict regulatory framework, defined at European level by the ADR Agreement, the International Agreement for Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road). The ADR legislation deals with the land transport of dangerous goods and is updated every two years, in odd-numbered years. This Agreement, signed in Geneva on 30 September 1957 under the auspices of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), entered into force on 29 January 1968 and was ratified by Italy with Law No. 1839 of 12 August 1962. The objective of the ADR Agreement is to harmonize safety standards relating to the international transport of dangerous goods by road, ensuring a high level of protection for people, property and the environment.
Subjects involved
The ADR regulations apply to all operators who, in various capacities, are involved in the transport of dangerous goods: shipper, transporter, consignee, loader, unloader, packer, filler and manager of container-tanks or mobile tanks. The main operational responsibilities are:
- Consignor: is obliged to present for transport a shipment that complies with the ADR regulations regarding classification, documents, packaging and tanks approved and suitable for that cargo. You must comply with the shipping procedures and related restrictions. It must provide traceable information to the carrier;
- Transporter: checks that the goods are authorised for transport, that the documentation and information are on board, that the vehicles and the cargo do not have any obvious defects, that the date of the next tank inspection has not been exceeded, that there are no overloads, that labels, panels and markings are affixed, that the prescribed equipment is on board. Provide written instructions to the crew. The carrier must ensure that the vehicle and cargo are free of defects;
- Consignee: he is obliged not to postpone the acceptance of the goods without imperative reasons and to verify that the ADR regulations that refer to him have been complied with. In the event of a non-compliant container, it can return it to the carrier only if the violations have been remedied;
- Shipper: has the obligation to deliver to the carrier only dangerous goods authorized for transport, to verify that the packaging is not damaged, even if empty and not cleaned, is labeled, there are no prohibitions on common loading and the separation of foodstuffs is respected. It must also comply with the regulations on loading and handling and on the labelling of containers. He must verify and is responsible for the arrangement of the load and the securing of the load;
- packer (packages): is obliged to observe the conditions of packaging and shared packaging, markings and hazard labels on the packages;
- Arrester: has the obligation to:
- ensure that the goods are the ones that need to be unloaded by comparing the relevant information on the transport document with the information on the package, container or vehicle;
- Before and during unloading, check whether the packaging, vehicle or container has been damaged to such an extent as to endanger the unloading operation. In this case, make sure that the discharge is not completed until appropriate measures have been taken;
- comply with all relevant requirements concerning unloading and handling;
- immediately after unloading the vehicles or container: remove any hazardous residue that has stuck to the outside of the vehicle or container during unloading operations;
- ensure that the required cleaning and decontamination of vehicles and containers is carried out;
- ensure that containers, once they have been fully unloaded, cleaned and decontaminated, no longer bear hazard markings.
In any case, all persons involved in the transport, loading and unloading of dangerous goods must receive training in accordance with chapter 1.3 ADR. In addition, each company that carries out transports of goods and hazardous waste under ADR or related operations (packaging, loading, filling, unloading or shipping, related to such transports), appoints an ADR Consultant, except in the cases of exemption provided for.
Scope of ADR for hazardous waste
The ADR classification is distinct from and complementary to the classification of waste pursuant to Legislative Decree 152/2006 as amended. and the European List of Waste (EER). There is no direct correspondence between the EER code and the UN number. The UN number is a globally unique four-digit number, which must be indicated on the transport document and on the container, together with the name of the substance.
The ADR classification of waste is based on:
- chemical-physical properties of the waste;
- presence of hazardous substances;
- behaviour in transport conditions;
- any dangerous reactions (e.g. spontaneous combustion, corrosion, gas development, other).
The rejection is then assigned to:
- ADR class (e.g. Class 3 – flammable liquids; Class 4.1 – Flammable solids; Class 4.2 – Substances subject to spontaneous ignition; Class 4.3 – Substances that, when in contact with water, emit flammable gases; Class 5.1 – Oxidizing substances; Class 5.2 – Organic peroxides; Class 6.1 – Toxic substances; Class 8 – Corrosive substances, etc.);
- Packaging group (G.I.), which defines the level of hazard (G.I. I = very dangerous goods, G.I. II = dangerous goods, G.I. III = not very dangerous goods); the G.I. corresponds to the letters shown on the packaging and are used to identify more or less resistant packaging to contain more or less dangerous goods:
- X packaging may contain goods with G.I. I or II or III;
- Y packages may contain goods with G.I. II or III;
- Z packages may contain goods with G.I. III.
- specific classification code.
The ADR prescribes the use of approved packaging suitable for the type of waste and the packaging group. The main types include: metal or plastic drums, rigid or composite tanks (IBCs), mobile or vehicular tanks.
Mandatory documentation in ADR transport
The transport of hazardous goods and waste requires comprehensive documentation, including:
- ADR transport document, indicating the UN code and UN number of the goods, description of the goods (any packaging group that may be preceded by P.G or G.I.), number of packages, description of packages, quantity of dangerous goods differentiated by UN number, name, shipment and packaging group, name and address of the consignor, name and address of the recipients, restriction code in tunnels;
- waste identification form (FIR) pursuant to Legislative Decree 152/2006;
- ADR written instructions on board the vehicle;
- Driver certifications and attestations.
Requirements for vehicles, equipment and drivers
ADR transport can only be carried out by suitable vehicles equipped according to ADR requirements (fire extinguishers, emergency kits, protective devices, specific equipment) and drivers in possession of an ADR license, with mandatory periodic training.
Compliance with ADR is an integral part of a model for the safe management and disposal of hazardous waste. ADR compliance helps to:
- prevent accidents during transport;
- avoid dispersion and contamination;
- ensure traceability and transparency along the supply chain;
- ensure compliance with European and national regulations.
The commitment of Valli Gestioni Ambientali
Valli Gestioni Ambientali strictly applies the requirements of the ADR in all hazardous waste transport activities pursuant to the ADR, adopting technical and management procedures that comply with the highest safety standards. The company guarantees:
- use of approved packaging and containers;
- vehicles and equipment that comply with the requirements;
- trained and certified personnel;
- integration with digital traceability and control systems.
This approach makes it possible to ensure fully compliant, technically sound and safety-oriented hazardous waste management.
