Defra Consults on revised WFD

Recently Defra began consulting on the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2010. These Regulations bring the revised EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD) into effect and should be in force by December of this year.

Much of the revised WFD is the same as the existing one. However, there are some key differences, two of which are outlined below:

The waste hierarchy – this will have to be given legal effect as a priority order. It is proposed that this will be achieved by:

• requiring local authorities to have regard to the hierarchy in the preparation of waste plans;
• including a condition in new or revised Environmental Permits which places a duty on the permit holder to minimise and treat waste in accordance with the hierarchy;