ALL MVDA CONCERNS RECOGNIZED IN GOVERNMENT REPORT ON CUTTING RED TAPE IN THE WASTE INDUSTRY!

ALL MVDA CONCERNS RECOGNIZED IN GOVERNMENT REPORT ON CUTTING RED TAPE IN THE WASTE INDUSTRY!

As part of the Cutting Red Tape programme, Government ran a review between July-September 2015 to identify barriers to growth & productivity in the waste sector.

The review received evidence from over 100 companies & Trade Associations (including MVDA).

The report from the Cutting Red Tape review of the waste sector has now been published.  It details the main issues raised by industry & the Government’s response. It can be found here

All of the issues raised by MVDA have been acknowledged in the report, including problems with permitting, exemptions, EA inspections, OPRA, TCM/Continuing Competence, & of course illegal operators.

This clearly demonstrates the value of your Trade Association membership.
The review identified numerous issues with waste regulation, including:

• Definition of waste: decisions on whether or not materials are waste or have ceased to be waste are burdensome, costly & time consuming.

• Permitting: the length of time taken to process permit applications, inconsistency between officials & the use and application of ‘standard rules’

• Exemptions: the requirement for registering exemptions for low-risk activities creates unnecessary burdens compared to the levels of risk.

• Inspections: some inspections are being undertaken by officials without the necessary qualifications, experience or training to properly or accurately carry out an assessment. There is also a perceived lack of a risk-based approach to compliance visits and inspections.

In response the Government has said:

• Definition of waste: we will amend guidance to revise & clarify the definition of ‘waste’ & ‘by-products’; the first stage will be completed by March 2016 with the second stage completed by March 2017.

• Permitting: we will start publishing revised guidance for the Environmental Permitting Regime from March 2016, working with business across the sector to investigate the issues & identify root causes of concerns by April 2016, & put an action plan in place to address issues raised in the review by August 2016.

• Exemptions: we will complete an assessment of compliance with exemptions by the end of March 2016 which will inform any subsequent proposal to review existing exemptions; & work to review & streamline the online registration system & deliver initial improvements by June 2016.

• Inspections: we will implement a programme to introduce professional environmental regulator status for staff to ensure inspectors have a broader understanding & knowledge of the challenges facing the sector by March 2016 & engage with businesses on reviewing how the Operational Risk Appraisal system could be improved & further deliver benefits of the ‘earned recognition’ principle by June 2016.

MVDA needs support from existing, lapsed & new members to be able to continue to fight your corner with Government & get action on the issues that matter to you.

Click here to download a membership application form