Waste planning policy

What is waste?

Any substance or object is capable of being waste. Determining whether or not a substance or object is waste is complex, and has significant legal and economic consequences for the waste holder. See Practice Note: Meaning of waste—what is waste?

The primary definition of waste is set out Article 3(1) of Directive 2008/98/EC, the Archived Waste Framework, as it had effect immediately before 11 pm on 31 December 2020. Waste is 'any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard'.

Practice Note: Meaning of waste—what is waste? includes case law on interpreting the definition of waste, key guidance and a checklist for determining whether something is waste.

Waste planning authorities

Waste planning authorities (WPAs) are authorities with responsibility for the land-use planning control of waste management. WPAs are usually county councils or (in areas where these no longer exist) unitary authorities, including National Park Authorities.

WPAs are responsible for producing Waste Development Frameworks (WDFs), a set of local policy documents that determine the location and type of waste management facilities and appropriate criteria on which to base planning

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