Reform of Northern Ireland laws on waste, contaminated land

Long-awaited proposals to bring Northern Ireland's waste management laws broadly into line with the rest of the UK have finally have finally been issued by the Government.¹ Waste regulation is to be transferred from district councils to a central inspectorate, although the districts are to retain their responsibilities for waste disposal. However, for the moment at least it seems that the new inspectorate may have more far-reaching powers in respect of contaminated land investigation, remediation and registers than its counterparts in Britain.