The move follows on from this year's Waste Strategy for England, in which the government stated its intention to boost the efficiency of use of construction, demolition and excavation materials.
And, it recognises the continued role for inert waste in restoring exhausted mineral workings.
The proposals have been developed by Defra and the Environment Agency working with the industry-led Landfill Inert Waste Sub-Group.
In the informal consultation, which ends March 21, 2008, the government is seeking views on issues including:
- A greater use of derogations from some of the Landfill Directive controls that are provided for inert waste;
- The need for a level playing field for the different activities involving inert waste;
- Revised guidance on the testing of inert wastes that are landfilled;
- Inconsistencies in terminology for describing inert waste going to landfill; and
- The quality of guidance, including classifying an activity as recovery or disposal.
The consultation does not include issues to do with timber, metal, plastics or hazardous materials like asbestos within construction, demolition and excavation waste, since these are considered “active” waste.
Defra explained that the consultation also reflects the recommendations from Lord Davidson's report of November 2006 on reducing or simplifying unnecessary regulation, as well as taking account of the position statement issued by the Quarry Products Association in June 2006 concerning the level of regulation.
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