Revising the waste licensing rules - deregulation or pragmatism?

The Department of the Environment (DoE) has been busy rewriting the guidance which will underpin the new waste management licensing system to be introduced under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 following the Government's decision in mid-March to delay its implementation. Major changes have been made to the previous proposals on financial guarantees for landfill liabilities, the technical competence of waste managers, and the requirements for surrender of licences. While some of the amendments are based on a clearer perspective of what the Act requires, in other areas the new regime will be less demanding on operators - and provide fewer safeguards for the environment.