Wales’ minister for environment Carl Sargeant has this week unveiled details of how the proposals will take shape, and what the proposed regulations will cover – including measures aimed at increasing recycling across the province.
This includes new arrangements for the segregation and collection of waste, which build on the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations, which enshrine the principles of the EU Waste Framework Directive in law.
In its explanation of the proposals, the Welsh Government stated: “The provisions of the Bill will act at different points in the waste management chain – at the producer of the waste, at the waste collection company and at the different points of treatment and final disposal or recovery.
“The Bill will operate in conjunction with landfill bans to ensure that valuable materials are recycled.
“The diversion of materials from disposal, towards high quality recycling or recovery will help with the transition to a more efficient use of resources derived from waste. Increased recycling and recovery of waste will help to decrease pressure on natural resources whilst also contributing towards positive results for both the economy and the environment.”
Recycling
Among the provisions of the Environment Bill are requirements for businesses and public sector organisations to ensure that “clean, uncontaminated” recyclable materials are separated before they are reprocessed, which the Welsh Government claims will command a higher price in the recycling market. The legislation is also to include a requirement for separate collection of recyclable material.
Elsewhere, the Bill contains a ban on recyclable material from being sent to energy from waste facilities, as well as a ban on the disposal of food waste to the sewer from non-domestic properties.
Should the Environment Bill – which also contains requirements around climate change, land management and flood prevent – come into law, it will bring waste policy in Wales more closely in line with that of Scotland. The Scottish Government introduced the Waste (Scotland) Regulations in 2014, which impose strict rules on how businesses present their waste for collection (see letsrecycle.com story).
Commenting on the Bill, Mr Sargeant said: “This Bill will ensure the decisions we take in relation to our natural resources support our economy, our communities and our environment. It will help us manage our natural resources in a way that will deliver lasting benefits for current and future generations.”
A consultation on the measures was carried out in late 2013 (see letsrecycle.com story).
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