§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now ready to publish a timetable for legislation on waste disposal on land; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierI have today placed in the Library copies of our target timetable for implementation of legislation on waste disposal on land. This covers part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and now substantially completes our implementation plans for the Act as well as for the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989. It should allow the local authorities sufficient time to make the necessary arrangements; I shall consult the local authority associations as to whether there are any detailed problems.
This legislation brings a complete overhaul of the regulation of waste management. It provides opportunities 423W and responsibilities for all those concerned with waste management to contribute to a better environment for tomorrow.
As I told the Select Committee on the Environment on 17 May, we are considering whether HMIP might be given responsibility for waste regulation as suggested in paragraph 18.17 of the Environment White Paper. Whatever the outcome, we need to make progress on the framework of the new regulatory system.
The proposed timetable for implementing the new regulatory system is as follows:
Waste Disposal Legislation Implementation Timetable Target Date Task Summer 1991 Lay regulations and issue circular on the registration of waste carriers and seizure of vehicles. Waste regulatory authority powers to seize vehicles used for fly tipping come into effect. Consult on draft regulations to implement a duty of care of waste producers and holders. November 1991 Issue circular and code of practice giving guidance on compliance with the duty of care. Lay regulations implementing duty of care. April 1992 Duty of care regulations and provisions on the registered carrying of waste come into effect. Early summer 1992 Consult of regulations and statutory guidance for the licensing of waste disposal. Summer 1992 Consult on a scheme of charges for licensing. December 1992 Lay regulations, announce charging scheme and statutory guidance, issue circular on licensing. April 1993 Licensing regulations and charging scheme come into effect.