Intermediate storage

Recommendations on the intermediate storage of oil spill waste

Authority(ies) in charge of managing the storage of oil spill waste

Rules and regulations applicable to intermediate oil spill waste storage sites

This Section will detail rules and regulations applicable to intermediate oil spill waste storage sites in your country.

Once the waste is collected from the shore (or transferred from vessels), direct transport to the treatment facility is possible. However, using “intermediate” storage sites, located at a reasonable distance, is an efficient and cost-effective option, as they allow:

• setting up a buffer site between the temporary storage sites and the treatment (or long-term storage site), to face reception delays and/ or possible saturation in either sites;
• sorting and repackaging the waste as required before transferring to the long-term storage/ treatment facility, e.g. small lorries are used between the temporary storage site and the intermediate storage. Large articulated lorries are preferably used to transfer the waste from the intermediate storage, reducing the total number of lorries required (and related contamination);
• better management and tracking of the waste.

Intermediate storage sites should:

• be located close to the coast, and of easy access;
• be pre-identified and listed in the OSWMP. The proposed intermediate sites should be approved by the national authority in charge of environment and health (and local authorities informed); and
• have no legal issues. All required authorizations should be obtained prior to their use.

The set-up of intermediate storage sites will depend on the volume and nature of waste collected in each region, and to be stored (e.g. simple storage place for containers and bags, or specifically built pits). The intermediate sites will be separated into different areas, one for each type of OSW to store. Particular attention will be given to limit and recover any run-off water or leachate (liquid that drains or 'leaches” from a landfill and/ or a waste storage).

Intermediate storage requires continuous management during all operations:

• competent supervisors on site,
• continuous recording of lorries entering and leaving the site,
• health and safety management (suitable PPE for the personnel on site, clear marking of the different areas on site, limitation of the traffic, limitation of the spreading of the pollution, etc.),
• environmentally-sound management (leak-proof containers, ground and soil protection, monitoring of leachate, management of run-off water, waste handling, etc.),
• identification of the waste stored on site and continuous tracking of the waste entering and leaving the sites (at least volume/weight, nature, packaging, producer, origin etc.),
• up-to-date documentation on all the waste transferred by the site, and
• complete rehabilitation of the site once all waste has been evacuated.

Equipment available in country for intermediate storage sites

This Section will detail the equipment available in country for intermediate storage sites

Location of existing and/ or potential intermediate storage sites

Estimated cost of storage per ton in intermediate sites

This Section will precise an estimated cost of storage per ton in intermediate sites

Recommendations on the restoration of intermediate storage site

This Section will detail the recommendations on the intermediate site restoration.

The final rehabilitation of the site will be carried out after a complete environmental assessment of the impacts of the waste storage and should include soil and ground water de-pollution if required.