Environment (Wales) Act 2016

Environment (Wales) Act 2016

3

Commentary on Sections

Part 4 – Collection and Disposal of Waste

Section 67 - Power to prohibit or regulate disposal of waste by incineration

263. Section 9 of the Waste (Wales) Measure 2010 contains provisions which confer powers on the Welsh Ministers to make regulations prohibiting or otherwise regulating the disposal by landfilling of specified types of waste. The purpose is to divert recoverable waste from disposal, and increase recycling in Wales. Section 67 of the Act inserts a new section 9A into the Measure, which contains provisions similar to those for landfill, but which relate to prohibition or regulation of incineration of specified types of waste.

264. Subsection (1) of the new section 9A provides the Welsh Ministers with a power to make regulations which prohibit or otherwise regulate incineration in Wales of specified types of waste. Such a power may, for example, be used to specify certain types of otherwise recyclable waste material which are not to be incinerated.

265. Subsection (2) describes certain particular types of provision which may be included in regulations under subsection (1). This includes a power to create offences, prescribe penalties and provide for enforcement authorities. Subsection (2) also includes a power to amend regulations made under section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999, which would include the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010, which regulate, amongst other things, the permitting and operation of incineration facilities.

266. Subsection (3) defines incineration for the purposes of section 9A, along with “waste incineration plant”, and “waste co-incineration plant”. The power in subsection (1) therefore applies to plants including those whose main purpose is to burn waste (for example waste incinerators) and those who burn waste to provide energy to power a process.