Waste Regulations 2011 – Scotland

The Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2011 and the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2011 came into force on the 27^th March 2011, click NetRegs.

What are they and do they apply to you…?

The Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2011

This regulation consolidates the existing Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 and the numerous amendments into one piece of legislation.

The main points are;

• Activities such as; dry screening of mixed wastes, treatment of waste sheep dip, digestates from the anaerobic treatment of waste, and the spreading of ash from pig and poultry carcasses on to agricultural land, can now undertaken under an exemption rather than needing a waste management licence.  Which should save you a few bob or two…!  I wish the same was for contaminated soil and water remediation…you should see what we get charged…!
• The need for a person to hold a Certificate of Technical Competence (COTC to you and me) to qualify to hold a waste management licence has been removed.
• If you transport any waste produced by your business you must now be registered as a waste carrier.

The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2011
This reg covers all the bits in the Waste Framework Directive 2008 that they didn’t manage to put in the one above…!  Did they forget to include them or is this just job creation…?
The main points covered are;

• Site licences – Partial suspension, revocation, transfer and surrender.
• Consolidating existing licences that cover one site and are held by the same person, and the same for mobile plant licences held by the same person.
• A licence may now be surrendered in part for some areas of land only.

Does this affect you…?
The web site states that “The changes mainly affect waste management businesses and businesses that handle waste.”  As a Kiwi friend of mine often says…No sh*t Sherlock…!

• Joking aside, they affect businesses that undertake certain waste activities that will now be exempt from the need to hold a waste management licence.  Lucky you.
• If your business buys, sell or arranges for the recovery or disposal of waste for other folk ; e.g. contaminated soils, you must register as a waste broker or dealer unless of course you are allowed to do so under another licence, permit or other legislation.
• If you carry your own business waste you’ll have to register as a waste carrier. And I bet they’ll charge you right royally for that…!

So why have them…?
From the horses mouth (NetRegs);

“The new regulations will make waste management licensing easier and clearer to work with. They also implement the revised Waste Framework Directive and take account of a 2005 European Court of Justice ruling on waste carriers.”

So if you need any assistance with the  treatment, transportation or movement of contaminated soils give us a call as we are already licensed.  I know, I paid the bill…!