Custom and practice have exerted a powerful influence on waste management in the UK. A notable feature is the role of local government, which remains dominant despite expanding legislation and the increasing technical complexity of waste management. The private sector has long had a major role in the transporting and disposal of hazardous waste. The Environmental Protection Act of 1990 represented a major revision of UK environmental legislation. A significant advance in the handling of hazardous wastes was the imposition of a new principle of 'Duty of Care' on all concerned parties.

Keywords: environmental protection, hazardous wastes, landfill, toxic waste, UK waste disposal, United Kingdom, local government, legislation