Recommendations for Other Small Users of Photographic Chemicals

General

• Users in this category will typically produce effluent volumes below 10 litres a week, excluding wash-water.
• Any user with premises that discharge into a septic tank or cesspit should not dispose of photographic chemicals into such a system or any surface water system.

Professional

• Small quantities from professional users will be covered by the waste regulations.
• Professional users should discuss their situation with the local Water Services Companies and provide them with details of the typical volume and waste content (generally available on request from the manufacturer of the chemicals).

Amateur

Photographic waste from amateur users is not covered by the waste regulations. It is considered domestic waste.

Check with your local Water Services Company to see if small quantities of waste can be disposed of down the drain in your local area.

Notes to the Code

Water consumption is as measured by the premises' incoming water meter or sub-meter to the process. If water recycling is used, the original volume used prior to recycling should be utilised to establish into which category the laboratory falls.

Exclusions from the Code

This code of practice is not intended to apply to businesses engaged in the use of reprographic photolitho, fast print shops, or printing.

It is not applicable where photographic and other imaging products are manufactured.

Any company whose business also uses non-photographic processes should apply the Code of Practice only to their photo-processing effluent.