The Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 relate, in respect of Scotland, to Council Directive 96/59/EEC on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCBs). They are made for the purpose of implementing the provisions of the Directive which require decontamination or disposal of PCBs and equipment containing them and the associated provisions for inventories, labelling and monitoring. They are additional to the existing relevant requirements of the waste management licensing regime under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are man-made organic chemicals that consist of carbon, hydrogen and chlorine. Typically, PCBs have no taste or smell, and can range in their form from a thin oil to a waxy solid.
PCBs are part of a wider group of man-made organic chemicals called chlorinated hydrocarbons. Their properties made them useful in many applications because they were non-flammable, chemically stable, had high boiling points and had excellent electrical insulation properties. They were typically used in:
See the useful links for further information on PCBs and their wider family.
