We will shortly be reviewing the information available in this section of the website. In the meantime the following information is available:

Relevant legislation and regulations

• EU Waste Framework Directive provides the overarching legislative framework for the collection, transport, recovery and disposal of waste, and includes a common definition of waste (PDF 100 KB). The directive requires all Member States to take the necessary measures to ensure waste is recovered or disposed of without endangering human health or causing harm to the environment and includes permitting, registration and inspection requirements. The directive also requires Member States to take appropriate measures to encourage firstly, the prevention or reduction of waste production and its harmfulness and secondly the recovery of waste by means of recycling, re-use or reclamation or any other process with a view to extracting secondary raw materials, or the use of waste as a source of energy. The directive’s overarching requirements are supplemented by other directives for specific waste streams.
• Environmental Permitting for Waste the recovery and disposal of waste requires a permit under EU legislation with the principal objective of preventing harm to human health and the environment. This legislation also allows Member States to provide for exemptions from the need for a permit, providing general rules are laid down for each type of exempt activity, and the operation is registered with the relevant registration authority. We have given effect to the EU requirements through the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 (the 2010 regulations). More information is available on the Environment Agency website
• Hazardous Waste Regulations Hazardous waste is essentially waste that contains hazardous properties which if mismanaged has the potential to cause greater harm to the environment and human health than non-hazardous. As a result, strict controls apply from the point of its production, to its movement, management, and recovery or disposal.
• Waste Shipment Regulations are comprised of EU Regulations, a UK statutory instrument and a UK Plan. Between them, they control movements of waste between the UK and other countries and provide a framework for enforcement. Some movements are prohibited, others are subject to prior written notification and consent procedures and some are subject to basic administrative controls. The control depends on the nature of the waste, its destination and whether it is destined for recovery or disposal.
• UK Ship Recycling Strategy Ship recycling is a global issue. Defra considers the environmentally sound management of ships to be a high priority and in 2007 issued a Ship Recycling Strategy for UK ships.
• Electrical and electronic equipment (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment (ROHS) Directives) aims to reduce he quantity of waste from electrical and electronic and increase its re-use, recovery and recycling. The RoHS Directive aims to limit the environmental impact of electrical and electronic equipment when it reached the end of its life. It does this by minimising the hazardous substances of legislation controlling hazardous substances in electrical equipment across the Community.
• Packaging, Packaging Waste and the Packaging Waste Regulations aims to harmonise national measures concerning the management of packaging and packaging waste to provide a high level of environmental protection and to ensure the functioning of the internal market.
• Landfill Directive aims to prevent or reduce as far as possible negative effects on the environment from the landfilling of waste, by introducing stringent technical requirements for waste and landfills and setting targets for the reduction of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill.
• End-of-life vehicles (ELVs) Regulation 2003 aims to prevent waste from end-of-life vehicles and promote the collection, re-use and recycling of their components to protect the environment.
• Batteries Directive aims to improve the environmental performance of batteries and minimise the impact waste batteries have on the environment. It does this by:
• restricting the use of cadmium and mercury in the design and manufacture of new batteries,
• setting collection and recycling targets for waste portable batteries and
• Banning the disposal of untreated automotive or industrial batteries in landfill or by incineration.
• Waste Incineration Legislation
• Environmental Protection Act 1990
• Environment Act 1995
• Information on the Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003
• The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997
• The Finance Act and Landfill Tax Regulations 1996
• Waste Minimisation Act 1998