This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Stricter regulations to protect environment
21/01/2005
New regulations to protect the environment from pollution by household and other wastes come into effect today.
The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2005 end opt-outs for quarries, mines and agricultural premises. They also place duties on householders not to deal with their waste in a way which could cause pollution or harm to human health, and to transfer them only to authorised persons - such as councils.
These measures will further reduce the fly-tipping of household waste and provide householders with a safe and environmentally friendly way of dealing with waste.
Environment Minister, Ross Finnie said:
"The Scottish Executive is committed to protecting and enhancing the environment that we live in.
"These measures strengthen the protection that existing waste regulations provide. By tightening regulations on household waste we will further reduce fly-tipping in Scotland.
"Bringing wastes from farming, mining and quarrying under full control will bring greater protection to the environment and human health.
"We have been very grateful for the input of farmers, landowners and crofters to this legislation. Soon everyone will also see benefits."
The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2005 came into force on Friday, January 21, 2005.
The Regulations extend the duty of care on householders when dealing with or transferring their wastes, consolidate the regime for protecting groundwater, and clarify the rules for composting and documentary requirements. They also formally end the exemption of wastes from mines, quarries and agricultural premises from the controlled waste regime in the Environmental Protection At 1990.
In Scotland, the rules governing landfill and incineration of wastes, and the handling of hazardous wastes, have already been applied to these waste streams. The new Regulations will therefore chiefly affect the handling and transfer of these wastes.
These changes, and legislation made in 2003 and 2004, bring Scotland fully into line with European waste law as established in the judgement of the European Court of Justice on December 16, 2004. The consultation on waste regulations initiated by Defra on December 9, 2004 is the first step of the process by which similar changes will be made in England & Wales.
Reports from councils suggest that a large percentage of waste fly-tipped in Scotland is household waste. The Executive increased penalties for fly-tipping in the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004.