Better Waste Regulation

Following a period of consultation in May 2007 on the principles of better waste regulation, SEPA and the Scottish Government have produced a summary of responses received and details of initial actions points which they propose to take forward:

Following a period of consultation in May 2007 on the principles of better waste regulation, SEPA and the Scottish Government have produced a summary of responses received and details of initial actions points which they propose to take forward:

• Consolidate waste management licensing regulations and associated amendments.
• Empower SEPA to draft and issue exemptions. 
• Allow registration of simple exemptions on-line
• Amend the list of categories of mobile plant exemptions.
• Undertake further consultation on detailed proposals for change to operator competence
• Develop a protocol for the use of soils from greenfield sites.
• Review the WML charging regime to take better account of environmental risk and operator performance.
• Review the legal restrictions which prevent modifications to licensed site boundaries.
• Review licence surrender requirements to ensure operators are no longer penalised for historic damage caused by previous activities
• Consider administrative penalties.

In its response to the 2007 consultation, SESA supported the principles of better waste regulation and advocated smarter, outcome-focused, environmentally justifiable regulation and the means ot achieve the aims of the initiative. The initiative should allow industry, regulators and the public to focus more on environmental outcomes and less on how they are achieved.

SESA stressed that regulation remained a crucial driver for waste management: standards have significantly improved in recent years and, driven by EU law, Scotland ’s facilities operate to some of the highest standards in the world. There should be no question of reducing existing standards of environmental protection.

However, SESA noted opportunities to streamline the administration of regulation and deliver a smarter, outcome-focused, environmentally justifiable and consistently applied regulatory regime with clearer guidance. This would provide industry with the confidence and certainty to invest in the provision of state of the art waste management solutions- essential for Scotland ’s compliance with EU Directives on waste.