Defra launched consultations on reforming the waste carrier, broker, dealer (CBD) registration system in England and on mandatory digital waste tracking in January (see letsrecycle.com story).
CIWM published its responses to both consultations yesterday (19 April).
The waste sector’s representative body says that, “when implemented in unison”, the proposals should create a “more coherent” picture of waste movements throughout the UK and “shine a light into some of the darker corners of the sector.”
Lee Marshall, CIWM’s policy and external affairs director, said: “We hope that these proposals, if enacted, will be accompanied by enough funding that will allow the regulators to make the most of these new tools, so that they can further clamp down on waste crime.
“However, the CIWM was disappointed to note that the proposals for carriers, brokers and dealers did not cover the whole of the UK.”
Established in 1898, CIWM says it represents around 5,700 individuals in the UK, Ireland and overseas. Its consultations responses were put together with “significant input and insight” from its members, CIWM says.
CBD registration
Within its response to the consultation on the reform of the CBD system, CIWM says Defra’s proposal to assign legal responsibilities for managing and transporting waste to ‘controllers’ and ‘transporters’ rather than ‘carriers, brokers and dealers’ for England alone will lead to “confusion and the abuse of ‘roles’.”
It also says there is a “mismatch” between the terminology used in these proposals and those in the UK-wide digital waste tracking consultation.
All changes must be supported by a “sufficiently funded” regulator and underpinned by “strong and effective” enforcement and “appropriate” deterrents, CIWM says.
It says the changes must be accompanied by an awareness campaign that highlights to householders and businesses the responsibilities and consequences of the new regime.
And, CIWM questions what “role” the producer would have under the new regime.
Digital waste tracking
In its response to the digital waste tracking consultation, CIWM says it believes that the changes proposed in this consultation are “a step in the right direction” and will provide a modern method of tracking all waste from cradle-to-grave.
Allowing other regulators access to the data held in the system should help further eradicate illegal waste activity, CIWM says.
It also says it is pleased that the proposed digital waste tracking system will be mandatory and welcomes the inclusion of data from exempt sites.
However, CIWM believes that there is still a place for the ‘season-ticket’ and says further thought is needed to alleviate some of the potential regulatory and cost burdens “which could affect the collection of small regular movements of waste, especially by SMEs.”
Related link
CIWM Consultation Responses 2022
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