The Welsh government has launched a consultation on regulations to require non-domestic properties to separate their recyclable materials from general waste.
Under the proposals in the consultation – which runs until 13 December 2019 – companies or local authorities which collect waste would also be required to collect recyclable materials and keep them separate.
Companies or local authorities which collect waste would also be required to collect recyclable materials and keep them separate
Also included in the proposals is a ban on certain separately collected recyclable materials being sent for incineration and landfill, along with a ban on landfilling wood waste.
Sanctions
Civil sanctions will also be made available for associated criminal offences under the regulations.
Under the proposed regulation change, companies will have to separate food, paper and card, glass, metal, plastic, WEEE and textiles. The landfilling and incineration of recyclable loads of the specified materials would be banned.
This option was considered preferable by the Welsh government over three others, which ranged from doing nothing to ‘high levels of separation’ which included separating paper and card.
According to the consultation document, the proposals put forward are expected to cost around £1.7 million over 10 years, which “represents a net benefit of £452.5 million compared to doing nothing”.
Currently, Business Wales states that the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 only require a business and waste contractor to confirm that the waste hierarchy has been applied.
‘Ambitious’
“We have set ourselves ambitious targets for 70% of waste to be recycled by 2025. The new proposals for regulations will help and support businesses to meet this target.”
Commenting after the release of the consultation, Hannah Blythyn, the Welsh Labour candidate for the Delyn constituency of the National Assembly for Wales, said: “We have set ourselves ambitious targets for 70% of waste to be recycled by 2025 and to achieve this we all have to play our part.
“The new proposals for regulations will help and support businesses to meet this target. I hope all those affected by these regulations that we propose to introduce will take part in the consultation and give us their views.”
The consultation can be seen here.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
