The year 2007 finally saw the introduction of some controversial and hugely anticipated legislation. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE) SI 2006/3289, which deal with the treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of such equipment, began to come into force on 2 January 2007 and trickled into full effect in July. In fact, Asset Management Ireland, who are based in Newtownabbey, become the first company in the UK to be declared as an authorised facility for the recycling and disposal of electronic computer hardware.
In addition, Europe’s flagship legislation on chemical safety, Regulation (EC) 1907/2006, on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), came into force on 1 June 2007 after over four years in development. However, the first major milestone for affected businesses is 1 June 2008 - which is when chemical manufacturers can pre-register their products, place them in an inventory and identify where in the supply chain they come from.
Waste strategy and climate change
Following on the trend of long, drawn out processes, the Waste Strategy for England was published on 24 May 2007, a slight delay from its planned date of October 2006. This new strategy places a greater responsibility on businesses for the environmental impact of their products and operations and is an essential part of the drive to tackle climate change. It sets ambitious targets for household waste recycling, household residual waste and municipal waste recovery.
Linked in with this Strategy is the Climate Change Bill. This potential landmark in legislation, which is the first of its kind in the world, sets out plans to tackle climate change over the next 50 years. It has now been published by Parliament and remains on course to become law by May 2008.
Water modernisation
Following on the trend of long, drawn out processes, the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order SI 2006/3336, came fully into force on 1 April. It was set the unenviable task of modernising Northern Ireland’s antiquated water and sewerage framework. This involved transferring the responsibility for delivering water and sewerage services from the Water Service to a Government owned company -Northern Ireland Water Ltd.-who are run on a commercial basis.
As a result, charges will be introduced for domestic water and sewerage services for the first time. This highly contentious issue has dominated the Northern Ireland Assembly, which was restored on 8 May 2007. It was eventually decided in October that householders will have to pay the controversial water charges, but they will be phased in over two years from April 2009.
Illegal dumping
One topic that has dominated the bulletins this year is the problem of the illegal disposal of waste in Northern Ireland. Often this waste has originated across the border in the Republic, and the whole process remains a lucrative business for criminals. A point emphasised by a record fine for such offences of £160,000 in July 2007. Tough new laws were brought in by the Waste (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order SI 2007/611, on 25 June 2007, and rogue waste operators now face up to five years in jail and fines of £50,000.
It had been hoped that the development of a new Environmental Protection Agency, which was suggested back in July, would be granted special powers to deal with protecting the waste industry. However this all-seeing environmental watchdog has not yet been established, hence December’s news that Environment Minister Arlene Foster is being forced to justify to the European Commission why she has so far failed to set up such an independent body, which is required by law.
Forthcoming legislation
It looks like being another busy year in 2008. Other important legislative changes to look out for include a re-drafting of the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) Regulations SI 2006/1463, and the Environmental Permitting Regulations, which have now been published in draft form. Crucially, the latter will see the restructuring of waste management licences and pollution prevention controls with a single environmental permit. The Climate Change Bill a landmark Bill, which is the first of its kind in the world, sets out plans to tackle climate change over the next 50 years. Despite being originally planned solely for Great Britain, the Northern Ireland Assembly has recently granted consent to extend its provisions to Northern Ireland. It has now been published by Parliament and remains on course to become law by May 2008.
It is hoped they will be introduced in April 2008.
Keep an eye on the Monthly Bulletins for the latest information on these subjects, and we will keep you informed and up-to-date throughout 2008.
Bulletins
We hope you’ve found the bulletins useful and informative over the past year and enjoyed the slightly obscure headlines. In case you have forgotten some of their "finer" moments, here are a few of our favourites! How many song titles and 80’s pop culture references did you spot...?
"Black box for fridges is ride on time."
"A waste passage to India."
"Cardboard and maggots and cheap lousy carrots."
"Pressure on EU over barometer ban."
"Van Dalen rocks waste industry."
"How much wood would a wood plant chip if a wood plant could chip wood?"
"Fagan reveals twist in Northern Ireland governance."
"Forest dump."
"Sewage ruining the lovely Islandmagee."
"Omagh God! I can’t believe it!"
"Hey Preseco!"
"Come on Arlene!"
As usual, if you have any comments or suggestions regarding the Monthly Bulletins, drop us an email at editor@cedrec.com.
