Queen&#39s Speech heralds new waste powers

And, the recycling credits system is to be updated to provide a fairer incentive for household waste recycling.

The measures are part of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill, one of 32 new Bills announced for the forthcoming Parliamentary term as part of the Queen's speech today.

The Bill includes measures on environmental crime, litter, graffiti, abandoned vehicles and fly-posting as well as some waste management concerns.

Fly-tipping
Some of the measures in the Bill bring together existing powers to simplify the legislation, while other measures introduce new action to tackle environmental crimes. More “robust” powers for illegal waste disposal will see potential fines for fly-tipping offences increased from a maximum of 20,000 to 50,000.

And, local authorities and the Agency will also be given new powers to instantly seize a vehicle or property involved in fly-tipping.

Fixed penalty notices will be available for local authorities and the Environment Agency to issue to businesses that fail to provide proper documentation for their waste disposal services. Each incident where a business cannot show how its waste has been dealt with could incur costs of 300. Waste carriers are similarly in store for 300 fines for each incident if they are not properly registered.

On-street waste
Waste collection authorities will be able to fine householders or businesses 100 for each incident of leaving waste on the street outside the official collection arrangements.

And, construction firms dealing with projects valued over 200,000 will have to produce waste management plans for their sites, showing the volume and type of materials needing disposal and how the waste is managed.

Credits

The Bill is likely to contain measures to update the recycling credits system, to improve the system of waste authorities paying collection authorities or third parties for recycling collections. Joint waste disposal authorities will be able to pay for recycling based on tonnages collected for recycling rather than a levy based on the size of member authorities.

And, the Bill is to include measures to allow closer working between local authorities and the private sector in waste management. This will make it easier for one or more councils to form partnerships with private waste firms.

Charging
Contrary to some national reports today, Defra has told letsrecycle.com the Bill will contain no measures on the charging of unsorted household waste. A spokeswoman said: “Despite speculation in the press, no announcement on recycling is expected in today's Queen speech.

“The Government is continuing to investigate options for influencing householder behaviour, with particular emphasis on incentives, and is complementing its research on international schemes with some further work on the current extent of incentive schemes in England.

“We are considering how we can assist local authorities to develop further incentive schemes with piloting of new approaches,” the Defra spokeswoman said.