Oil and gas waste management

Estimated Volume: Hundreds of millions of tonnes per year

A byproduct of extraction containing salts, hydrocarbons, and chemicals. Most is treated and re-injected into wells, with excess discharged at sea or sent onshore for further treatment.

Estimated Volume: 1-2 million tonnes per year

Rock and soil fragments from drilling. Treated and disposed of at sea or recycled onshore for construction or landfill cover.

Estimated Volume: 80,000 tonnes per year

Includes chemicals, oils, and tank sludge from drilling and refining. Transported onshore for special treatment, recycling, or disposal.

Estimated Volume: 22,000 tonnes per year

From decommissioned equipment and infrastructure. Recycled, salvaged, or disposed of if contaminated.

Estimated Volume: 10,000 tonnes per year

Includes drums, containers, and mixed industrial waste. Managed through various recycling and disposal methods.

Estimated Volume: 1,000 tonnes per year

Naturally occurring radioactive deposits in pipes and equipment. Processed onshore under radioactive waste regulations.

Aberdeen is a big part of the offshore energy sector, with a busy network of ports, warehouses, and crew accommodation. Our commercial waste collection in Aberdeen supports these sites by efficiently managing commercial cardboard recycling, packaging, and food waste. We provide reliable and compliant waste management for hotels, staff canteens, and logistics companies across Dyce, Altens, and Aberdeen Harbour.

Southampton plays a key role in the oil industry, hosting Esso’s Fawley Refinery and surrounding marine terminals. We support local businesses from haulage yards and port offices to cafes, with tailored commercial waste services. Our Southampton business waste collection covers general waste, mixed recycling, food bins, and commercial glass recycling collection.

Plymouth’s dockyards generate a steady flow of commercial waste from offices, workshops and port cafes. We provide reliable waste collection services across Devonport and nearby areas, including options for food waste, commercial mixed recycling, general waste, and glass. Whether you’re a small marine supplier or a large contractor, we help keep your site clean and compliant. Explore our waste collection services for businesses in Plymouth.

From ferry terminals to supply chain warehouses, Portsmouth supports a wide range of industries linked to the oil and maritime sectors. Our Portsmouth commercial waste collection helps local businesses manage their waste sustainably, including regular collections for general waste, cardboard, plastic, and waste from the hospitality industry. We also work with hotels, retail units, and staff facilities near Portsmouth International Port.

Hull’s industrial docks and logistics hubs support everything from chemical processing to freight handling. The wider area also includes cafes, office units, engineering workshops, and port-based hospitality venues, all of which produce regular commercial waste. Our Hull business waste collection service helps local companies manage general waste, recycling, packaging materials, and food waste.

Liverpool’s Merseyside port and energy infrastructure bring together a mix of commercial operations, including fuel logistics, local warehouses, offices, and accommodation providers. Our Liverpool commercial waste collection includes bins for general waste, cardboard, glass, and food waste. Whether you operate a freight hub or hotel near the docks, we help you stay compliant and meet sustainability goals.

These are the key specific regulations governing oil and gas waste:

• Radioactive Substances Act 1993: Governs the handling and disposal of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) from drilling and extraction.
• Special Waste Regulations 1996: Regulates the treatment and transport of hazardous and special waste from offshore and onshore sites.
• Petroleum Act 1998: Covers waste disposal regulations related to petroleum extraction, including decommissioning processes.
• UK Ship Recycling Facility Regulations 2015: Ensures sustainable disposal of ships and offshore platforms at authorised facilities.

The following agencies enforce oil and gas waste regulations:

• Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED): Oversees offshore waste disposal, decommissioning, and environmental compliance.
• Offshore Safety Directive Regulator (OSDR): Enforces safety and environmental compliance in offshore waste operations.
• Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA): Regulates marine waste transport and offshore environmental safety.
• The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA): Manages industry-wide waste disposal and decommissioning strategies.

Improper drilling mud and cuttings disposal can pollute offshore seabeds and onshore soil. This contamination affects ecosystems, disrupts marine life, and may lead to groundwater pollution.

‘Produced water’, containing hydrocarbons, salts, and chemicals, can contaminate seawater and freshwater sources. Leaks from pipelines, tanks, and equipment further increase the risk of pollution.

Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) in oil and gas waste poses health and environmental hazards. Strict handling, treatment, and disposal methods are required to prevent exposure.

Decades of oil and gas extraction have left drill-cutting piles up to 60 metres high on the seabed. Some contaminants have been found 4km from offshore platforms, highlighting long-term pollution risks.

Before strict regulations, spent drilling fluids were dumped into landfills and oceans without treatment, leading to severe pollution. The EU Waste Framework Directive (2008) introduced mandatory treatment before disposal.