And, amendments have been made to Waste Management Regulations that broaden the scope of activities exempt from waste management licensing.
The new measures, which could see any organisation found to be abusing waste licensing conditions or exemptions fined up to 5,000, will come into force on July 12, 2004.
Announcing the measures, Scotland's environment minister Ross Finnie said: “The Executive is working towards a cleaner and safer environment for all our people. Part of this commitment relates to the better and safer management of waste disposal.”
The amendments also give the Scottish Environment Protection Agency more power to enforce the regulations.
Mr Finnie explained: “The agency will have increased powers to ensure that any exempt waste activity is carried out properly in accordance with the European Waste Framework Directive. These enhanced powers for SEPA will help ensure that only genuine recycling activities take place and should help reduce illegal dumping.
“These regulations are part of the Executive's across-the-board approach to improving Scotland’s waste management record,” he added.
Composting
The amendments to the exemption legislation mean small scale or community-based compost businesses will be able to distribute their product at sites other than those where their compost is produced.
Mr Finnie said: “The regulations take forward our support for community composting by enabling bodies involved in this work to provide compost to others in their area such as schools or hospitals.”
Other amendments announced included an additional definition for mobile waste treatment plants to give SEPA more guidance when licensing waste treatment technologies as new forms are developed.
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