DoE consults on surrender of waste licences

A consultation paper setting out the procedures which will apply to the surrender of waste management licences from next year was issued by the Department of the Environment (DoE) on 18 December.¹ Much more rigorous monitoring will be required of most landfill operations, and many operators are likely to surrender their licences before the new regime comes into force rather than pay the extra costs involved. The proposals have also created a new conflict between existing DoE guidance on landfill practices intended to minimise water pollution hazards, and the desire of landfill operators to allow water into their sites so as to reduce the period before licences can be surrendered.