The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Scottish Government have announced plans to consolidate 20 pieces of waste management legislation into one as part of a Better Waste Regulation Action Programme (BWRAP). The programme will look at specific actions to improve Scotland's existing waste management licensing system, which will involve streamlining it in a similar way to the introduction of Environmental Permitting in England and Wales.
Kenny Boag, head of SEPA's waste policy unit said, "Our programme aims to improve the system for control of waste and will deliver a high quality modern and effective approach to regulation, reduce waste production, protect the environment from the impacts of waste production and promote the safe reuse and recycling of waste."
Under the consolidation plans, permits issued under the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations SSI 2000/323 are to be replaced by a new form of compliance assessment from 2008/09. The Waste Management licensing Regulations SI 1994/1056 and the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations SSI 2005/348 will also be phased out in 2009/10.
SEPA have already moved to address some concerns raised with regard to the introduction of electronic registration for licensing exemptions and allowing information to be accessed more easily by redesigning their homepage. There is also some consideration being given to the possibility of SEPA taking responsibility for drafting and issuing exemptions.
This overhaul of Scottish legislation comes in the wake of the publication of SEPA's corporate plan, which showcased the organisation's goals and priorities in managing waste, air quality, water and other fields for the period 2008/11.
