To meet the requirements of the CIWM (WAMITAB) Operator Competence Scheme, technically competent people must demonstrate Primary Competence by completing a qualification, units and/or training programme(s) which demonstrates they have the knowledge and skills to ensure waste sites comply with Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations.
Why do I need to participate?
The CIWM (WAMITAB) Operator Competence Scheme Version 9 [Final] was approved by Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government for England and Wales on December 22nd 2008. Participation in the scheme by gaining primary competence provides evidence of the technical knowledge needed on a waste site. This evidence can be required by employers based in the waste industry and the environmental regulators.
How do I join the scheme?
CIWM (WAMITAB) will help operators to understand the qualifications, units and/or training programme(s) which may be required to meet the technically competent person requirements for their waste sites – this process starts by selecting the relevant risk tier table from the list below.
Risk tier tables for:
England
To use the risk tier table simply look up the level of risk and description of the waste facility you work at, before looking across to see which qualification you require – you can find out more about the qualification by clicking on the relevant qualification.
Please note: the risk tier table is primarily intended for new permit applications or to determine additional competence arrangements for existing permitted facilities. It is applicable to facilities in England and Wales operating in accordance with the Environmental Permitting Regulations. Operators are advised to check with their Environmental Regulator for confirmation that they will accept the qualification before registering with a centre.
If an operator undertakes a qualification covering more than one activity and chooses to cover additional activities at a later date – for example, completed:
MROC2 for end-of-life vehicles and are planning to cover a WEEE-ATF site.
HROC1 for hazardous landfill and are planning to cover non-hazardous landfill, inert landfill, closed hazardous landfill, closed non-hazardous landfill, or closed inert landfill.
HROC2 for non-hazardous landfill and are planning to cover inert landfill, closed hazardous landfill, closed non-hazardous landfill, or closed inert landfill.
HROC6 hazardous waste treatment and are planning to cover MROC1 non-hazardous transfer.
HROC6 hazardous waste treatment and are planning to cover MROC2 end of life vehicles or WEEE ATF.
HROC4 hazardous transfer and are planning to cover MROC12 non-hazardous transfer.
The operator will need to maintain the appropriate Continuing Competence test for the original award and complete the appropriate Continuing Competence test for the new activity when their existing Continuing Competence becomes due.
Please be aware that following publication of the Continuing Competence syllabi effective from 1st April 2023, the previous Continuing Competence test for Clinical Waste (CW) is now titled Healthcare Waste (HW).
Risk
Description of Waste Facility Covered
Standard Rules Permit
Continuing Competence
Qualification/ Certificate
(one of the following options)
High
Hazardous waste landfill (open) including single stream
To use the risk tier table simply look up the level of risk and description of the waste facility you work at, before looking across to see which qualification you require – you can find out more about the qualification by clicking on the relevant qualification.
Please note: the risk tier table is primarily intended for new permit applications or to determine additional competence arrangements for existing permitted facilities. It is applicable to facilities in England and Wales operating in accordance with the Environmental Permitting Regulations. Operators are advised to check with their Environmental Regulator for confirmation that they will accept the qualification before registering with a centre.
If an operator undertakes a qualification covering more than one activity and chooses to cover additional activities at a later date – for example, completed:
MROC2 for end-of-life vehicles and are planning to cover a WEEE-ATF site.
HROC1 for hazardous landfill and are planning to cover non-hazardous landfill, inert landfill, closed hazardous landfill, closed non-hazardous landfill, or closed inert landfill.
HROC2 for non-hazardous landfill and are planning to cover inert landfill, closed hazardous landfill, closed non-hazardous landfill, or closed inert landfill.
HROC6 hazardous waste treatment and are planning to cover MROC1 non-hazardous transfer.
HROC6 hazardous waste treatment and are planning to cover MROC2 end of life vehicles or WEEE ATF.
HROC4 hazardous transfer and are planning to cover MROC12 non-hazardous transfer.
The operator will need to maintain the appropriate Continuing Competence test for the original award and complete the appropriate Continuing Competence test for the new activity when their existing Continuing Competence becomes due.
Please be aware that following publication of the Continuing Competence syllabi effective from 1st April 2023, the previous Continuing Competence test for Clinical Waste (CW) is now titled Healthcare Waste (HW).
Risk
Description of Waste Facility Covered
Standard Rules Permit
Continuing Competence
Qualification/ Certificate
High
Hazardous waste landfill (open) including single stream
The following table is taken directly from the Amendment of the Waste Management Licensing Regulation (Northern Ireland) 2003 which came into force on 17 August 2015 and outlines the qualifications and unit clusters applicable to different site activities in Northern Ireland. Due to the recent revision to the CIWM (WAMITAB) Operator Competence Scheme, an additional column has been added to the table showing the new qualification codes.
Please note: If a learner chooses a 12 unit qualification to gain a CoTC, they will need to register to complete the 6 or 4 unit qualification applicable to their activity and then register for the additional units. For example, a learner that wants to complete 12 units for Open Windrow Composting (previously known as 4MBTNHO) would do MROC3 plus OCS06, OCS07, OCS08, OCS09, OCS10 and OCS65 (this will be charged as RQF Level 4 + COTC on the fees list).
Type of Activity
Minimum Relevant Operator Competence Certificate
New Operator Competence Scheme Qualification Codes (1 April 2016)
Managing a site where waste is burned in an incinerator designed to incinerate waste at a rate of more than 50 kilograms per hour but less than I tonne per hour
Managing a treatment plant where non-hazardous waste is subjected to biological treatment: anaerobic digestion facility including use of resultant biogas
Managing a treatment plant where non-hazardous waste is subjected to biological treatment: on-farm anaerobic digestion facility including use of resultant biogas
The current waste management arrangements in Scotland do not incorporate a risk tier table, please refer to SEPA for detailed guidance on waste management licensing regulations.
Deemed Competence (FAQs)
Section 1: Permitting Regulations as they apply to technical competence
The new regulations on Technical Competence are only effective in England and Wales. If you already hold a CoTC or are classed as Deemed Competent you will need to demonstrate Continuing Competence every two years. If you are working towards a CoTC check with the Environment Agency (EA) whether your site falls in a High, Medium or Low Risk tier. You may be able to reduce the amount of units you need to achieve to demonstrate competence for your site.
The regulatory changes are only effective in England and Wales. Operators should be aware of the different regulatory requirements across UK borders and that the CoTC is still required in Scotland and Northern Ireland until further notice.
From 1 March 2009, there will be a requirement to comply with Continuing Competence every two years for those persons meeting the Technical Competent Persons requirements for the EPR 2007 Regulations. This includes those individuals, who were Agency assessed*. EA assessed individuals fall into two categories: (i) Individuals who passed an EA assessment for a non-CoTC activity prior to 1st March 2009 will be expected to complete a continuing competence assessment between the period 1 March 2009 and 1 March 2011; (ii) Individuals who passed an EA assessment to benefit from a 2-year grace period and who obtain their competence qualification after 1st March 2009 will be expected to complete a continuing competence assessment during the 2-year period starting on 1 March 2011 and finishing 28 February 2013 i.e. they will skip the first cycle of continuing competence.
‘Deemed Competent’ managers will be required to demonstrate Continuing Competence every two years commencing 1 March 2009, in accordance with the EPR 2007 Regulations. You will need to register your existing Deemed Competence with the Environment Agency during the summer of 2008 (as time progresses beyond this period check with the EA).
You will need to take a Continuing Competence Test every two years in accordance with the EPR 2007 Regulations. The first test must be passed within the 2 year period commencing 1 March 2009.
Check with the EA to determine which risk tier your facility falls within. Most previously ‘exempt’ facilities are likely to fall within the Medium Risk or Low Risk tiers. Once the risk tier is determined then contact a WAMITAB approved Centre as necessary to register for the appropriate award path and achieve that award.
Contact the EA as necessary to confirm the applicability of the transitional period; they will guide you regarding the Risk Tier that your facility falls within. You will be required to achieve at least one technically competent person within 4 weeks of permitted activities commencing. This could be via an Environmental Permit Operator Certificate, EPOC, or a VRQ (either of these if the site is not currently operational) or a 4 Unit award for an operational site. If your site falls to ‘Low Risk’ then either the EPOC, or the 4 Unit award, will be the only award you will need. If your facility falls to Medium or High Risk you will then be required to achieve the higher qualification as necessary, following achievement of the EPOC, or 4 Unit awards, within 12 months of permitted activities commencing. Note: Landfill operator competence requirements do not benefit from an exemption period and competence must be demonstrated prior to or at the time the Permit is issued. In all instances Continuing Competence needs to be maintained as appropriate every two years.
Landfill operator competence requirements do not benefit from any exemption period and competence must be demonstrated prior to or at the time the Permit is issued. Check with the EA as to the Risk Tier your facility falls within – please note that Non-Hazardous and Hazardous Landfill sites (open and closed) fall within the ‘High Risk’ tier, while Inert Landfills (open and closed) appear in the ‘Medium Risk’ tier.
No. The attendance requirements for ‘Technically Competent Persons’ remain as current and are determined within the Environment Agency document ‘Technical Competence for Operators of Authorised Waste Facilities, July 2004′. How much time does a TCP need to spend on site, can they cover more than one site? Please note that section 3.2 of the EA document ‘Technical Competence for Operators of Authorised Waste Facilities, July 2004′, specifies the attendance times for the Technically Competent Person.
No, 100% attendance was not adopted for the Technically Competent Person within the EPR 07 Regulations. The attendance requirements for ‘Technically Competent Persons’ remain as current and are determined within the EA document ‘Technical Competence for Operators of Authorised Waste Facilities July 2004′.
The operator will determine the requirement for the Technically Competent Person(s) based on EA guidance, site operational hours and percentage attendance requirements. Further guidance can be found within the EA document ‘Technical Competence for Operators of Authorised Waste Facilities July 2004′
Existing CoTC Holders (FAQs)
Section 2: Certificate of Technical Competence (CoTC)
Yes, the CoTC (and the NVQ that underpins the CoTC) will remain valid as appropriate qualifications to meet the necessary Technical Competence requirements specified within the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007 in England and Wales (providing it still meets the competence requirements for the risk tier associated with your facility). What will change is the need to demonstrate Continuing Competence every two years from 1 March 2009. Note that the ‘WAMITAB CoTC scheme’ is still valid in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
No. So long as your CoTC (or the NVQ that underpins the CoTC) are appropriate for your facility then all you will need to do is meet the Continuing Competence requirements from 1 March 2009.
Generally all you will have to do is to take the Continuing Competence assessment every two years from 1 March 2009. It is intended that you will only have to sit one assessment even though you hold more than one CoTC. The assessment that you take will include questions relating to the appropriate CoTC’s that you hold.
No. The COTC’s (and the NVQs that underpin them) remain appropriate qualifications to meet the Technically Competent Requirements as specified within the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007, effective from 6 April 2008. All you will have to do from 1 March 2009 is to ensure that the Continuing Competence requirements are met every two years.
What you get to demonstrate competence will depend on the risk tier for your facility. High risk: The CoTC will still be available for those persons who achieve a 12 Unit NVQ within the ‘High Risk’ tier but this will be optional to the candidate after 22 December 2008. Those candidates who registered for a CoTC before 6 April 2008 will be issued with their CoTC as usual following that date; Medium risk: A new 6-unit award will be available and WAMITAB will issue a Certificate entitled ‘Operator Competence Certificate’. Alternatively a Vocationally Related Qualification is available from WAMITAB; Low risk: A new 4-unit award will be available and WAMITAB will issue a Certificate entitled ‘Operator Competence Certificate’. If you are required to achieve an EPOC then CIWM will issue an ‘Environmental Permit Operators Certificate’. What is happening to the CoTC in the future? In England and Wales the CoTC will become an optional certificate for candidates that achieve the appropriate 12 Unit NVQ for high risk activities. The CoTC will continue to be available from WAMITAB for issue to candidates if they choose and pay the relevant fee (currently £120.00) to show the competence achieved when EPR07 came in force on 6 April 2008. The CoTC scheme in Scotland and Northern Ireland is not changing.
Make yourself aware of the Technically Competence Person requirements as specified within the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007 that came into force on 6 April 2008 and discuss the situation with the EA. You may find that depending on your particular facility type, that there is no change to the competence requirements you need to demonstrate. However in some instances, and depending on the Risk Tier your facility falls within, candidates may find that they do not need to achieve the full 12 units of the NVQ and that only 6 or 4 units need to be gained.
No. WAMITAB has a responsibility to deliver and maintain the CoTC Scheme in England and Wales until the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007 came into force on 6 April 2008. Thereafter WAMITAB’s responsibilities for the CoTC scheme will remain in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
