Temporary storage of waste: rules and limits
Temporary storage is the collection of waste at the place of production before it is handed over. It is allowed only within quantity and time limits: beyond those limits it becomes unauthorised management, with possible penalties.
What temporary storage is
It is the collection of waste at the place of production, awaiting handover to a facility or to an authorised carrier. It is not storage: it is provisional in nature and subject to precise limits.
Quantity and time limits
Temporary storage is allowed within the maximum quantities (the threshold is lower for hazardous waste) and the maximum storage times, with some exceptions for collection by the public service.
How it differs from storage
Storage requires a specific authorisation (an authorised facility). Exceeding the limits of temporary storage can be treated as uncontrolled deposit or unauthorised management.
Mistakes to avoid
Unsuitable packaging, mixing incompatible waste, exceeding the times and the quantities, missing documentation. All mistakes that expose you to penalties.
Arch. Carola Novara
Architetto · Responsabile Tecnico · RSPP
Architetto specializzato in sostenibilità, ha conseguito i Master in Management e Business (Bologna Business School) e in Data Analysis e Digital Transformation. Vanta una solida esperienza nella gestione di grandi cantieri di bonifica da amianto e terre, prevalentemente nell'area di Milano, nei ruoli di Responsabile Tecnico e RSPP. Ha lavorato all'estero in contesti post-emergenziali (Giappone, Nepal, Olanda). Con sede a Torino, è Responsabile Tecnico categoria 1 per Asti e provincia presso l'ASP di Asti.
Frequently asked questions
The limits concern maximum quantities (different for hazardous and non-hazardous waste) and storage times. They must be checked against the specific situation.
Related insights
How to assign the correct EWC code to waste: the European list, the check on hazardous properties and the mistakes to avoid.
Related services
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