SEPA plans to simplify landfill permits to help ‘poorly performing’ sector

In a consultation launched today, SEPA said it aimed to simplify the permitting process in order to create a simple, outcome-based permit for non-hazardous landfills.

SEPA said the work would be carried out while also considering other factors to ensure that the permit is legally correct and robust. For example, the regulator noted that compliance levels at operational landfills, “are consistently amongst the lowest of all regulated sectors in Scotland”. The regulator said it  receives a high volume of complaints from the public about landfills – mainly regarding odour and litter.