The three SIs for scheduled for plenary debate on 28 November for Senedd approval. If passed, all business, public, and third sector workplaces in Wales will legally have to separate recyclable materials, mirroring the practice in households across the country.
Laid out by Julie James MS, minister for climate change, the move forms part of Wales’ strategy to “build a greener and more sustainable economy”.
Ms James said: “The Workplace Recycling Regulations build on our successful household recycling reforms, where our high rate of recycling in Wales already saves us around 400,000 tonnes of carbon per annum. Alongside the environmental imperatives, importantly rolling out this approach to our workplaces will provide benefits to the economy by capturing a resilient supply of high-quality recycled materials, creating job opportunities and stimulating investment.”
She added: “With the cost of materials contributing to the rising cost-of-living, more effectively keeping high quality recycled materials in the Welsh economy will improve resource efficiency and reduce our reliance on the extraction of primary resources.”
Instruments
There are four statutory instruments the Welsh government needs to lay before the Senedd for the regulations to be implemented.
The three SIs published yesterday are:
- The Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2023: This SI mandates non-domestic premises, including businesses, charities, and public sector bodies, to present specified recyclable materials separately for collection. It also requires separate collection and storage of these materials, aiming to enhance recycling quality and quantity
- The Prohibition on the Incineration, or the Deposit in Landfill, of Specified Waste (Wales) Regulations 2023: This SI expands existing bans to include additional specified recyclable materials from non-domestic and domestic premises. It aims to prevent the incineration or landfill disposal of these materials, thus promoting their recycling
- The Prohibition on Disposal of Food Waste to Sewer (Civil Sanctions) (Wales) Order 2023: This Order complements the ban on disposing of food waste into sewers from non-domestic premises. It aims to prevent circumvention of the new food waste separation requirement and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with improper food waste disposal
All three SIs include provisions for civil sanctions related to criminal offenses associated with these requirements.
The final Separate Collection of Waste Materials for Recycling: a Code of Practice for Wales which sets out practical guidance on how to comply with the separation requirements will also be published shortly, subject to the Senedd’s approval of the Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2023.
Campaign
Ms James highlighted that a national communications campaign has been launched in order to ensure a smooth transition which features sector-specific guidance, direct mail to workplaces, case studies, and additional resources.
The campaign’s goal is to raise awareness and support workplaces in complying with the new legislation.
The guidance, and other resources for workplaces and waste collectors, is available online here: www.gov.wales/workplacerecycling
How can we access the communications campaign collateral please?
The guidance, and other resources for workplaces and waste collectors, is available online here: http://www.gov.wales/workplacerecycling. I have added this to the article too, apologies.