Agency outlines planned charges for formerly exempt sites

In a consultation on proposed environmental permitting charges for 2010/11, the Agency outlined just how the charges would affect the estimated 5,000 sites which are currently exempt from a permit but, under its ongoing review of the exemptions system, are expected to have to pay for a permit.

The Agency proposes permit application fees for newly-liable facilities ranging from £700 for mobile plant being used to treat agricultural land, up to the top-end of £2,570 which would apply to four “non-standard” waste activities, such as the use of waste for reclamation or recovery of land.

Other proposed charges for activities that were previously exempt include £1,590 for the composting of biodegradable waste and the same amount for anaerobic digestion plants.

The review of the exemptions system was launched in July 2008 (see letsrecycle.com story), with the aim of simplifying and streamlining the system, and, despite a six-month delay (see letsrecycle.com story), the new regulations are expected to come into force in April 2010.

Metals recycling

The move to make some exempt activities apply for a permit has proved particularly controversial with the metals recycling sector, following government admissions that up to a third of scrap yards that are currently covered by the paragraph 45 exemption could require a permit (see letsrecycle.com story).

In its response to a consultation on the exemptions overhaul, published earlier this month (see letsrecycle.com story), the government revealed it would retain the exemption, but only in a “limited” form.

And, in the document outlining proposed charges for 2009/10, the Agency explained that it was working on how its existing scrap metal permit would affect sites which are expected to require a permit under the proposed changes.

“We currently have a standard permit that covers a wide range of scrap metal activities,” it said.

“Over the coming months we would hope to discuss this permit with the scrap metal industry to check that it still satisfies their needs following the Government's recent response to the consultation on the Exemption Review,” it added.

Inflation

Addressing permit charges in general, the Agency outlines plans to increase the baseline charges for all permits by 1% – and claims that this is at the bottom of inflation estimates for 2010/11, in recognition of the “difficulties” being faced by businesses in the current economic situation.

“This level of increase is intended to strike a balance between our intention to be sensitive to the economic situation for business and industry, whilst providing the funding to support the necessary duties that we must carry out,” it explains.

And, it proposes a range of technical changes, of which “the majority are beneficial to operators”, which include:

A lower application charge for a number of permits based on standard rules, including cutting the fee for many facilities from £2,570 to £1,590;

Lower application charges for low impact installations that are not subject to standard rules – with the fee reduced from £2,880 to £2,570;

• Lower transfer and surrender charges for Tier 2 waste facilities;
• A range of lower charges for mining waste operations, although a proposed increase in the transfer charge for this category;
• Two technical changes for closed landfills relating to what the trigger is for the variation charge and an operator applying to accept inert waste at a closed site;
• A revision to the change made by the Agency last year to the complexity band for surface treating metals and plastic materials (2.3 part A (1)(a);
• The full implementation of Opra compliance Band F which was deferred last year.

Responses to the consultation on permit charges for 2010/11 can be made until December 16 2009.