Waste permits, exemptions and registrations

Introduction

Waste is defined as ‘any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard’. The definition of waste involves a case-by-case assessment of whether the holder of the item has discarded it, intends to discard it, or is required to discard it. The definition of ‘discard’ must be interpreted in light of legislative provisions relating to the harmful effects of waste, and protection of the environment and human health. Key legislation relating to waste includes:

•
Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, SI 2011/988 (Waste E&W Regs 2011) which transposed many provisions from the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC, as amended (WFD 2008) into domestic law
•
the Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990
•
the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, SI 2016/1154 (EPR 2016), dealing with permitting of waste disposal and recovery operations

This Practice Note outlines the provisions relating to waste permits, exemptions and registrations. See also the following Practice Notes:

•
Meaning of waste—what is waste?
•
Meaning of waste—definition of waste
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Meaning of waste—waste exclusions
•
Waste projects—overview
•
Environmental Permitting Regulations

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