PAS402: The Performance Standard

PAS 402 is a Publicly Available Specification applicable to the waste management industry, designed for performance reporting. It is a standardised framework for waste management companies to measure and report how waste is managed, including reporting key performance metrics such as waste recovery and landfill diversion rates.

To show compliance with PAS 402, waste companies prepare a PAS 402 report and then have it independently audited and verified by a UKAS-accredited inspector (the UKAS accreditation ensures credibility of the verification process). This verification is provided through the Green Compass Scheme, which offers the route for waste companies to gain a certificate showing they meet the PAS 402 requirements.

Achieving accreditation demonstrates both the commitment of a business to report on industry metrics linked to national targets, and the robustness of business operational control to provide data and verify this independently. Accreditation enables waste management businesses to access new markets such as public sector procurement frameworks, where being PAS 402 certified is a pre-requisite.

PAS 402 follows other Publicly Available Specifications through the structure of a number of clauses that must be met in the Performance Report. These clauses include:

• Operational Reporting: a description of the waste management activities and treatment overview.
• Compliance Reporting: demonstrating how legal, environmental, quality and health and safety requirements are managed.
• Metrics Reporting: quantifying material recovery rates and landfill diversion metrics.

To obtain accreditation to the standard, a company must complete a PAS 402 Performance Report that meets the requirements of the standard. Once completed this can then be submitted to the Green Compass Scheme for verification audit. This process is updated annually to coincide with the annual reporting requirements.

WRM can support you through this process by:

• Developing your Performance Report
• Reviewing you Performance Report prior to verification
• Supporting you through the verification audit process
• Training your staff to understand the requirements of PAS 402
• Improving your performance over time by developing and implementing new management systems and procedures