Sheehan offer support over new waste-management protocol
Industry support from Sheehan Haulage & Plant Hire amid new waste-management protocol
WASTE and recycling company Sheehan Haulage and Plant Hire are offering industry support ahead of impending changes to environmental compliance and waste management for the utility sector.
Street Works UK has announced the introduction of a new Material Classification Protocol, effective from 1 October 2025, which provides a structured, risk-based framework for classifying excavated waste generated from street works replacing the previously withdrawn Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) 298 and 299 with a solution tailored to the specific needs of the sector.
The new protocol heralds a significant transformation for the UK utility sector with a more rigorous, risk-oriented approach to waste classification, particularly concerning unplanned utility excavations.
With the new protocol bringing significant new responsibilities for contractors, Sheehan Haulage and Plant Hire say their team is on hand to support them through the transition.
The key changes include having to separate excavated materials by type and hazard level at the point of excavation and throughout their processing journey. Each excavation requires increased assessment, and materials must be separated into the correct European Waste Catalogue codes. A minimum of 1% of excavations must undergo laboratory analysis.
Once classified, waste must be managed according to its category and disposed of at licensed facilities. Companies must also submit quarterly reports to Street Works UK, including waste-classification data and test results.
Katie Sheehan, sales director at Sheehan Haulage and Plant Hire, said: ‘We support the new protocols that will help enhance the sustainability of street works, and we’re ready to support contractors with advice and a straightforward, compliant solution that saves both time and money and ensures they remain compliant and efficient.’
Sheehan Haulage and Plant Hire operate an aggregate recycling facility at Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, which can accept excavated materials classified under the new protocol. Once tipped, contractors can collect its BS EN 13242 Highways 600-compliant recycled aggregates, allowing them to save time and reduce costs by combining disposal and collection in a single visit.
‘Our service will ensure compliance and provide a comprehensive one-stop service for disposal and recycled aggregate supply,’ added Ms Sheehan. ‘This not only delivers time and cost savings, but also helps reduce reliance on landfill.’
The Sheehan Group, a family-run business based that specializes in sustainable construction, recycling, and civil engineering, saves more than 100,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste from UK landfill sites per year through its investment in CDE recycling technology.
