SCHEDULE 3THE WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Article 19(4)

Part 1Objectives

Overall objective1

To protect the environment and human health by preventing or reducing the adverse impacts of the generation and management of waste and by reducing overall impacts of resource use and improving the efficiency of such use.

Application of the waste hierarchy

2

1

To apply the following waste hierarchy as a priority order in waste prevention and management policy—

a

prevention;

b

preparing for re-use;

c

recycling;

d

other recovery (for example energy recovery); and

e

disposal.

2

In applying the waste hierarchy in sub-paragraph (1) the Department shall ensure that it—

a

encourages the options that deliver the best overall environmental outcome, which may require specific waste streams departing from the hierarchy where this is justified by life-cycle thinking on the overall impacts of the generation and management of such waste;

b

takes into account—

i

the general environmental protection principles of precaution and sustainability;

ii

technical feasibility and economic viability;

iii

protection of resources; and

iv

the overall environmental, human health, economic and social impacts.

3

To ensure that waste management is carried out without endangering human health, without harming the environment and, in particular—

a

without risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals;

b

without causing a nuisance through noise or odours; and

c

without adversely affecting the countryside or places of special interest.

4

1

To establish an integrated and adequate network of waste disposal installations and of installations for the recovery of mixed municipal waste collected from private households, including where such collection also covers such waste from other producers, taking into account best available techniques.

2

The network must be designed so as to enable the European Union as a whole to become self-sufficient in waste disposal as well as in the recovery of mixed municipal waste collected from private households, and to enable the United Kingdom to move towards that aim individually, taking into account geographical circumstances or the need for specialised installations for certain types of waste.

3

The network must enable waste to be disposed of or mixed municipal waste collected from private households for recovery, to be recovered in one of the nearest appropriate installations, by means of the most appropriate methods and technologies, so as to ensure a high level of protection for the environment and human health.

4

This paragraph does not require that the full range of final recovery facilities is located in Northern Ireland.

Part 2Matters which must be included in the waste management strategy

5

The waste management strategy must include—

a

a statement of the Department’s policies for attaining the objectives specified in Part 1 of this Schedule; and

b

an analysis of the current waste management strategy, an analysis of the measures to be taken to improve environmentally sound preparation for re-use, recycling, recovery and disposal of waste and an evaluation of how the waste management strategy will support the implementation of the objectives and provisions of the Waste Framework Directive.

6

The waste management strategy must include such matters as the Department considers appropriate, taking into account the geographical level and geographical area to which the waste management strategy relates and including at least the following—

a

the type, quantity and source of waste generated within Northern Ireland;

b

the waste likely to be shipped from or to Northern Ireland;

c

an evaluation of the development of waste streams in the future;

d

existing waste collection schemes and major disposal and recovery installations, including any special arrangements for waste oils, hazardous waste or waste streams addressed by specific European Union legislation;

e

an assessment of the need for new collection schemes, the closure of existing waste installations, additional waste installation infrastructure, and, if necessary the related investments;

f

sufficient information on the location criteria for site identification and on the capacity of future disposal or major recovery installations, if necessary; and

g

general waste management policies, including planned waste management technologies and methods, or policies for waste posing specific management problems.

7

The waste management strategy must include policies in relation to packaging waste, separate collection of waste, bio-waste and re-use and including—

a

a chapter on the management of packaging and packaging waste, including measures taken pursuant to Articles 4 and 5 of the Packaging Waste Directive;

b

measures to promote high quality recycling including the setting up of separate collections of waste where technically, environmentally and economically practicable;

c

measures to encourage the separate collection of bio-waste with a view to the composting and digestion of bio-waste;

d

measures to be taken to promote the re-use of products and preparation for re-use activities, in particular—

i

measures to encourage the establishment and support of re-use and repair networks;

ii

the use of economic instruments;

iii

the use of procurement criteria; and

iv

the setting of quantitative objectives.

8

The waste management strategy must include policies in relation to preparing for re-use, recovery and recycling targets including—

a

measures to be taken to ensure that by 2020, at least 50% by weight of waste from households is prepared for re-use or recycled;

b

measures to be taken to ensure that by 2020, at least 70% by weight of construction and demolition waste excluding—

i

hazardous waste; and

ii

naturally occurring material falling within code 17 05 04 in the Schedule to the List of Wastes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005,

is subjected to material recovery.

Part 3Matters which may be included in the waste management strategy

9

The Department may include the following in the waste management strategy, taking into account the geographical area to which the strategy relates—

a

organisational aspects related to waste management including a description of the allocation of responsibilities between public and private operators carrying out waste management;

b

an evaluation of the usefulness and suitability of the use of economic and other means of tackling various waste problems, taking into account the need to maintain the smooth functioning of the internal market;

c

awareness campaigns and information provision directed at the general public or at a specific set of consumers; and

d

measures for the remediation of historical contaminated waste disposal sites.