The Waste (Circular Economy) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

Jurisdiction: UK

Commencement: 1st October 2020

Amends: 

1. Town and Country Planning Act 1990 
2. Environmental Protection Act 1990 
3. Environment Act 1995 
4. Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003 
5. Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 
6. The End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 
7. The End-of-Life Vehicles (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2005 
8. The Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 
9. The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 
10. The Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007 
11. The Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 
12. The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 
13. The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 
14. The Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 
15. The Climate Change Agreements (Eligible Facilities) Regulations 2012 
16. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 
17. The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2015 
18. The Renewables Obligation Order 2015 
19. The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 
20. The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 
21. The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 

Amendments

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 

Minor amendments are made to insert reference to the following EU Directive in order to refer to the most recent amendment: 

• Directive (EU) 2018/849 amending Directives 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles, 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, and 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment replaces reference to Directive 2013/56/EU amending Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators as regards the placing on the market of portable batteries and accumulators containing cadmium intended for use in cordless power tools, and of button cells with low mercury content. 
• Directive 2017/2096  amending Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of life vehicles is changed to refer to Directive (EU) 2020/363 amending Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles as regards certain exemptions for lead and lead compounds in components. 
• Directive (EU) 2018/850 amending Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste replaces reference to Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste. 
• Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste replaces reference to Regulation (EU) 2017/997 amending Annex III to Directive 2008/98/EC as regards the hazardous property HP 14 ‘Ecotoxic’. 

Record keeping 

Records of exempt waste operations falling within the description of the following are required to be kept by operators: 

• T3 (Treatment of waste metals and metal alloys by heating for the purposes of removing grease etc.) 
• T7 (Treatment of waste bricks, tiles and concrete by crushing, grinding or reducing in size) 
• T9 (Recovery of scrap metal) 
• T12 (Manual treatment of waste) 
• T14 (Crushing and emptying waste vehicle oil filters) 
• T15 (Treatment of waste aerosol cans) 
• T17 (Crushing waste fluorescent tubes) 
• T30 (Recovery of silver) 
• T33 (Recovery of central heating oil by filtration) 
• U8 (Use of waste for a specified purpose) 

Waste collected for re-use and recycling not to be incinerated or landfilled 

Schedule 9 is updated to include a new statutory permit condition on ‘Waste separately collected for preparing for re-use and recycling not to be incinerated or landfilled’. This restricts the acceptance for incineration or landfill of waste paper, metal, plastic and glass collected separately in preparation for re-use or recycling.  Unless a relevant permit authorises the operator to accept such waste for incineration or landfill, or if incineration or landfilling provides the best possible environmental outcome, the waste must not be accepted. 

Duties

Record keeping: 
Chronological records of the quantity, nature, origin and where relevant, the destination and treatment of all waste disposed of or recovered are required to be kept by operators of some exempt waste operations including: 

• WEEE operations; 
• Operations falling within the descriptions of sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph U10 (spreading waste on agricultural land to confer benefit) or U11 (Spreading waste on non-agricultural land to confer benefit); 
• Operations falling within the descriptions of T9 – (Recovery of scrap metal), T12 (Manual treatment of waste), T14 (Crushing and emptying waste vehicle oil filters), T15 (Treatment of waste aerosol cans), T30 (Recovery of silver), T33 (Recovery of central heating oil by filtration) or U8 (Use of waste for a specified purpose); and 
• Operations falling within the descriptions of T3 – (Treatment of waste metals and metal alloys by heating for the purposes of removing grease etc.),  T7 (Treatment of waste bricks, tiles and concrete by crushing, grinding or reducing in size) for operations carried on by a waste mobile plant, or T17 (Crushing waste fluorescent tubes) 

These records must be kept for 2 years or 3 years if it involves treatment of hazardous waste. This does not apply if the waste exemption falls within paragraph U10 or U11 and the undertaking is already required to keep records in relation to the operation under the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 or the Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) Regulations 2013.  

The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 

Minor amendments are made to insert reference to the following EU Directives in order to refer to the most recent amendment: 

• Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste replaces reference to Regulation (EU) 2017/997 amending Annex III to Directive 2008/98/EC as regards the hazardous property HP 14 ‘Ecotoxic.’ 
• Directive (EU) 2018/850 amending Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste replaces reference to Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste. 

Waste collection authorities’ duties 

Duties placed on waste collection authorities to ensure that waste paper, metal, plastic or glass are collected separately do not apply where one of the following conditions are met: 

• the collection of waste paper, metal, plastic or glass results in output from those operations which is comparable to separate collection; 
• separate collection of the waste does not deliver the best environmental outcome; 
• separate collection of the waste is not technically feasible; or 
• separate collection of waste would involve disproportionate economic costs. 

Where waste is collected separately to undergo preparation for re-use, recycling or other recovery, it must not be mixed with other wastes or materials, unless one or more of the following conditions are met: 

• the mixing of wastes is of comparable quality to that achieved through keeping waste separate; 
• keeping waste separate does not deliver the best environmental outcome; 
• keeping waste separate is not technically feasible; or 
• keeping waste separate would involve disproportionate economic costs. 

Schedule 1 

As a result of the UK establishing waste prevention programmes, further additional measures are included in Part 2 of Schedule 1. 

The updated schedule includes: 

• matters which must be included in waste management plans (e.g. policies in relation to waste, litter, packaging waste, collection of waste, bio-waste, targets relating to re-use and recycling); 
• transitional requirements that may apply if a waste management plan is adopted before 1st October 2020; 
• examples of waste prevention measures mentioned throughout these Regulations (e.g. reducing the amount of waste which is not suitable for re-use or recycling); and 
• examples of economic measures to provide incentives for the application of the waste hierarchy (e.g. charges and restrictions for landfilling and incineration of waste). 

 For more detailed information please see Part 2 of Schedule 1.

The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2015 

Minor amendments are made to insert reference to the following EU Directive in order to refer to the most recent amendment: 

• Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste replaces reference to Regulation (EU) 2017/997 amending Annex III to Directive 2008/98/EC as regards the hazardous property HP 14 ‘Ecotoxic’. 
• Directive (EU) 2018/852 amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste replaces reference to Directive (EU) 2015/720 amending Directive 94/62/EC as regards reducing the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags. 

As a result of Directive (EU) 2018/852, all packaging containing oxo-degradable plastic is not to be considered as biodegradable. 

*oxo-degradable plastic packaging is made from plastic materials that include additives that breaks down the plastic material into micro-fragments. 

Packaging designed and produced for commercial use, must have the waste hierarchy applied for the purpose of its re–use, recovery or recycling. The waste hierarchy ranks waste management options from the most preferable to the least preferable for the environment. These options are: 

• Prevention. 
• Preparing for re-use. 
• Recycling. 
• Other recovery (e.g. incineration). 
• Disposal. 

Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Environment Act 1995 and Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 

References to Directive 2008/98/EC on waste (the ‘Waste Framework Directive’) are changed to refer to the most recent amendment (Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste).

There are no changes in duties for businesses. 

Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003 

References to Directive 2008/98/EC on waste (the ‘Waste Framework Directive’) are changed to refer to the most recent amendment (Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste. 

The definition of municipal waste* is also updated to mirror the definition found in Article 3 of the Waste Framework Directive. There are no changes in duties for businesses.

*Municipal waste is mixed waste which is collected separately from households or from other sources where the waste is similar to household waste (e.g. paper, cardboard, glass etc.). 

The End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 and The End-of-Life Vehicles (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2005  

References to the following EU Directives are changed to refer to the most recent amendment: 

• Directive 2008/98/EC on waste (the ‘Waste Framework Directive’) is changed to refer to Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste. 
• Directive 2017/2096  amending Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of life vehicles is changed to refer to Directive (EU) 2020/363 amending Annex II to Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles as regards certain exemptions for lead and lead compounds in components. 

There are no changes in duties for businesses. 

The Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005  

Minor amendments are made to replace reference to the following EU Directives in order to refer to the most recent amendment: 

• Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste replaces reference to Regulation (EU) 2017/997 amending Annex III to Directive 2008/98/EC as regards the hazardous property HP 14 ‘Ecotoxic.’ 
• Directive (EU) 2018/850 amending Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste replaces reference to Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste. 

Hazardous waste which has been mixed unlawfully is required to be separated. 

Where the separation of hazardous waste is not required, the person holding that waste is required to make arrangements for mixed hazardous waste to be treated at a facility authorised by a waste permit to treat the mixed waste. 

Mixing of waste oils is prohibited where it would obstruct the regeneration* or other equivalent recycling operation for those oils. 

*Regeneration is a recycling operation where base oils can be produced by removing the contaminants and additives contained in waste oils.

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007  

Minor amendments are made to replace reference to the following EU Directives in order to refer to the most recent amendment: 

• Directive (EU) 2018/852 amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste replaces reference to Directive (EU) 2015/720 amending Directive 94/62/EC as regards reducing the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags. 
• Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste replaces reference to Regulation (EU) 2017/997 amending Annex III to Directive 2008/98/EC as regards the hazardous property HP 14 ‘Ecotoxic’. 

The definition of energy recovery is updated to mean the incineration with heat recovery, of combustible packaging either on its own or with other types of wastes. 

There are no changes in duties for businesses. 

The Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007  

Schedule A1 is updated to insert Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste. Directive (EU) 2018/851 replaces reference to Regulation (EU) 2017/997 amending Annex III to Directive 2008/98/EC as regards the hazardous property HP 14 ‘Ecotoxic’.  

There are no changes in duties for businesses.

The Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 

Minor amendments are made to replace reference to the following EU Directives in order to refer to the most recent amendment: 

• Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (the ‘WEEE Directive’) is updated to refer to Directive (EU) 2018/849 amending Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles, 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, and 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment. 
• Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste replaces reference to Regulation (EU) 2017/997 amending Annex III to Directive 2008/98/EC as regards the hazardous property HP 14 ‘Ecotoxic.’ 
• Directive (EU) 2018/849 amending Directives 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles, 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, and 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment replaces reference to Directive 2013/56/EU amending Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators as regards the placing on the market of portable batteries and accumulators containing cadmium intended for use in cordless power tools, and of button cells with low mercury content. 

There are no changes in duties for businesses. 

The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 

Minor amendments are made to replace reference to the following EU Directives in order to refer to the most recent amendment: 

• Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (the ‘WEEE Directive’) is updated to refer to Directive (EU) 2018/849 amending Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, and 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment. 
• Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste replaces reference to Regulation (EU) 2017/997 amending Annex III to Directive 2008/98/EC as regards the hazardous property HP 14 ‘Ecotoxic.’ 
• Directive (EU) 2018/850 amending Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste replaces reference to Directive 2011/97/EU amending Directive 1999/31/EC as regards specific criteria for the storage of metallic mercury considered as waste. 

There are no changes in duties for businesses.  

The Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 and The Climate Change Agreements (Eligible Facilities) Regulations 2012 and The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 and The Renewables Obligation Order 2015 and The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 and The Infrastructure Planning Regulations 2017 

Minor amendments are made to insert reference to the following EU Directive in order to refer to the most recent amendment: 

• Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste replaces reference to Regulation (EU) 2017/997 amending Annex III to Directive 2008/98/EC as regards the hazardous property HP 14 ‘Ecotoxic’. 

There are no changes in duties for businesses. 

 

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