This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Proposals to improve waste handling
26/01/2004
Proposals for bringing non-mineral wastes from mines and
quarries, and farm wastes within the regulations covering
all other waste in Scotland were published today.
Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development
Allan Wilson welcomed the publication of Executive
proposals to further tighten controls on the handling of
such waste.
The proposals also make it an offence to treat, keep or
dispose of household wastes in a manner likely to cause
pollution of the environment or harm to human health. The
great majority of householders, who hand over their waste
to the local authority, will not be affected by this
change.
Mr Wilson said:
"These proposals to extend the controlled waste regime
are part of the Executive's policy of improving Scotland's
waste management record. They are evidence of our
determination to ensure effective protection of public
health and the environment.
"This will result in all waste being handled and treated
with the same degree of care. At the same time householders
will be in no doubt as to their duty to have their wastes
taken away for proper treatment, usually by the
council.
"I would like to thank representatives of the farming
and landowning communities for their constructive
engagement in drawing up this paper.
"I believe our proposals will achieve strengthened
protection for the environment."
The consultation paper Farm Wastes and Non-Mineral
Wastes from Mines and Quarries was published today. The
consultation period ends on 19 March. Copies are available
from Ruth Campbell, on 0131 244 0397, and the document will
shortly be posted on the Executive website.
The proposals are to extend the controlled waste regime
prescribed by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to
non-mineral wastes from mines and quarries, and to farm
wastes. These wastes were specifically exempted in the
original legislation. The Scottish Executive has already
brought these wastes under landfill legislation in the
Landfill (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2003, and has
published a consultation paper (Safer Special Waste) on the
regulation of hazardous wastes from these activities. These
proposals now complete work to bring these wastes within
the standard regulatory framework.
The consultation paper also proposes to amend the
regulatory framework for household wastes to make treating,
keeping or disposing of these wastes in a manner likely to
cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health
an offence. Improper disposal of waste by a householder
would be a form of fly-tipping. Maximum penalties for
fly-tipping include unlimited fines on conviction on
indictment. On the more usual summary conviction the
maximum penalty is £20,000, which the Executive is now
proposing to double in the Antisocial Behaviour etc
(Scotland) Bill. The householder can avoid committing this
offence simply by disposing of wastes to the local
authority in the usual manner.
The consultation paper was drawn up with the assistance
of a Working Group consisting of representatives of the
Scottish Executive, SEPA, NFU Scotland, the Crofters'
Commission and the Scottish Landowners' Forum.