The management of municipal waste and land use planning – principal differences between
Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
A similar summary table exists on the Defra website of the differences in Landfill Allowance
schemes across the UK. If you wish to take a look at that click here.

Wales

England

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Waste policy has been devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government.

Waste policy determined by DEFRA.

Waste policy devolved to the Scottish Government

Waste policy determined by EPD

Devolved for secondary legislation (Regulations) except where National Assembly for Wales (NAW) has not been designated for the implementation of specific EC Directives either via Section 2.2 of the European Communities Act, or through Primary legislation. NAW is seeking legislative competence for waste to enable it to pass primary legislation (as an "Assembly Measure").

UK Government has primary legislation powers (for England and Wales).

Devolved to Scottish Government but some powers reserved by Westminster.

The Waste Regulatory role has been transferred from the District Councils to EHS as a result of the implementation of the Waste and Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997.

Devolved. Wise About Waste, The National Waste Strategy for Wales, was published in June 2002. Non devolved strategic waste policies and instruments (e.g. the Landfill Tax) affecting Wales are covered in Waste Strategy 2000. Wise About Waste is being reviewed and will be published in 2009.

DEFRA have responsibility for producing a waste strategy for England. The current waste strategy for England is Waste Strategy 2007, which was launched in March 2007.

"National Waste Plan" (Scotland) published in 2003

This was formulated by the amalgamation of 11 Area Waste Plans developed by SEPA, local authorities and other stakeholders.

Responsibility for National Waste Strategy transferred from SEPA to Scottish Government in March 2007.

TThe Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy 2006 - 2020.

The Strategy offers a long term vision for the future development of waste management in Northern Ireland and provides a framework for this.

Wales has a single tier of local authorities – there are 22 Unitary Authorities. The authorities are represented in Wales by the Welsh Local Government Association.

Mixture of Counties, Districts and Unitary Authorities. The authorities are represented in England by the Local Government Association.

There are 32 unitary authorities in Scotland. 31 of these are represented by CoSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities).

There are 26 District Councils in Northern Ireland. These are represented in Northern Ireland by NILGA (Northern Ireland Local Government Association). Under RPA there are to be 15 councils in Northern Ireland by 2011.

Wales

England

Scotland

Northern Ireland

3 voluntary Regional Waste Groups of local authorities have each produced a Regional Waste Plan. Plans are to be revised every 3 years. Waste Planning Policy defined in "Planning Policy Wales" and the associated TAN21 (Waste). Revised plans are out for consultatiuon with new plans due to be adopted in mid 2008.

Regional Assemblies are advised by Regional Technical Advisory Bodies and produce Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs) that include policies that are the bases for Regional Waste Strategies. These will eventually be incorporated into comprehensive regional strategies. Waste Planning Policy is as defined in PPS10. Some regions are now developing trial Regional Waste Boards.

11 Area Waste Plan groups made up of varying numbers of local authority areas. These consist of representatives from LAs, SEPA, business and community sector.

There are three Waste Management Groups made up of local authorities in Northern Ireland: Southern Waste Management Partnership (SWaMP), North West Region Waste Management Group (NWRWMG) and arc 21.

Under the plan rationalization agenda there is no requirement for Welsh LAs to produce municipal waste strategies.

DEFRA Guidance. Power in WET Act to require some authorities to produce MWMSs. Guidance published on MWMSs in July 2005.

As above. In addition, local authorities also have individual waste strategies/plans.

As above. Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy and the three Waste Management Plans.

Landfill Allowances Scheme (Wales) Regulations brought into force on 1st October 2004. There will be no trading of allowances in Wales. Wales Regs differ in places to the English Regs. The biodegradable proportion for municipal waste in Wales is deemed to be 61%. Fines for exceeding allowances are £200 per tonne of exceedance.

Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (England) Regulations brought into force on 1st April 2005. There is trading of allowances. Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW) in England is 68%. Penalties for exceeding allowances are £150 per tonne of biodegradable municipal waste in excess of allowances held.

Landfill Allowance Scheme (Scotland) (LAS). Regulations and distribution of allowances brought into force in 2005-06.  Allowance distribution only set until 2010 in first instance.  Fines - £25 per tonne in 2007-08 rising through increments to £150 per tonne. Formal inter authority and cross border trading to be introduced in  2008/9.

Biodegradable proportion in Scotland 63%.

Northern Ireland Landfill Allowances Scheme (issued for consultation in January 2004). The consultation gained the majority of responses in favour of an allowance-based scheme that restricted the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) disposed of in landfill sites. The Landfill (Scheme Year and Maximum Landfill Allowance) Regulations 2004 came into force on 22nd July 2004 and set out the allowance for all of NI in each scheme year. The biodegradable proportion for municipal waste has been set as 71%.

Also, the Landfill Maximum Amount (NI) regulations have been in place since 18th November 2004.

The Act enables the National Assembly for Wales to produce Regulations to adopt its provisions within Wales. No regulations have been issued.

The Act requires local authorities in England to collect separately at least two separate recyclable fractions of household waste by 2010. Guidance document published in April 2005.

Does not apply in Scotland. Local authority recycling initiatives have been incentivised through distribution of Strategic Waste Fund grants.  From 2008-09 the ring-fence will be removed and additional funding absorbed within the overall local government settlement – linked to Concordat and outcome agreements.  

Does not apply in Northern Ireland

Wales

England

Scotland

Northern Ireland

By 2009/10 and beyond achieve at least 40% recycling/composting with a minimum of 15% composting (with only compost derived from source segregated materials counting) and 15% recycling.

Later targets are being consulted on and will be announced as part of waste strategy review.

National targets for household waste set in Waste Strategy 2007:

to recycle or compost at least 40% and recover value from 53% of household waste by 2010;

to recycle or compost at least 45% and recover value from 67% of household waste by 2015;

to recycle or compost at least 50% and recover value from 75% of household waste by 2020;

to reduce household waste not re-used, recycled or composted to 320kg/person/year by 2010 and to 225kg/person/year by 2020 (or equivalent weights/household).

Targets are currently under review.

25% recycling/composting target by 2006 (not statutory). 30% recycling and composting by 2008; and 50% by 2020. 

Also target to stem waste growth by 2010.

Note: targets likely to be reviewed in light of Administration’s Manifesto commitment to move towards a zero waste society – targets may increase.

Targets for household waste set out in the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy:

National Waste Strategy 2006-2010.

60% commercial/industrial waste to be recycled by 2010.

75% constructional waste to be recycle/reused by 2020.

Recycling and composting targets for households:
35% by 2010
40% by 2015
45% b6 2020

No targets.

Targets for municipal waste set in Waste Strategy 2007:

to recover value from 53% of municipal waste by 2010;

to recover value from 67% of municipal waste by 2015;

to recover value from 75% of municipal waste by 2020.

No targets.

Biodegradable Municipal Waste:

Reduce quantities being landfilled to 75% of the 1995 baseline levels by 2010, 50% by 2013 and 35% by 2020.

By 2003/04 all civic amenity sites should have facilities to receive and store, prior to proper disposal, bonded asbestos sheets. All sites should also have facilities for receiving and storing, prior to recycling, oils, paints, solvents and fluorescent light bulbs.

No targets

Special Waste Regs came into force Aug 2004; requiring segregated storage of hazardous materials.

The Hazardous Waste Forum was set up in 2003.

The Special Waste Regulations (NI) 1998 came into operation in September 1998. EHS administer and control an assignment note system requiring a unique code for each particular movement of special waste.This is designed as a system of control for dangerous and difficult to control wastes.

By 2009/10 (and to apply beyond) waste arisings per household should be no greater than those (for Wales) in 1997/98;

by 2020 waste arisings per person should be less than 300kg per annum.

No targets

Stem waste growth by 2010.

A secondary target of the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy is to stem the increase in waste arisings per household, returning to 1998 levels by 2005 and thereafter reducing arisings by 1% every three years.

Wales

England

Scotland

Northern Ireland

By 2005, achieve a reduction in waste produced equivalent to at least 5% of the 1998 arisings figure;

by 2010, achieve a reduction in waste produced equivalent to at least 10% of the 1998 arisings figure.

No targets

No Targets – However, non-municipal waste framework and waste prevention plans in place.  Waste audits have been undertaken by LAs and action plans produced.

No Targets

Sustainable Waste Management Grant (SWMG), Regional Capital Access Fund (RCAF) of more than £200 million over preceding six years, with an increase in next three years, being finalized.

Waste Performance and Effeciency Grant (WPEG) allocated to all authorities. Total sums of £105m in 2006/07 and £110m in 2007/08.

Ring-fenced grants to be subsumed within local government settlement from 2008-09.

Waste Management Grant

Life

Landfill Tax Credit Scheme

Wales Programme for Improvement

Best Value.

Best Value.

No statutory performance standards have been set. National Assembly for Wales Performance Indicators (NAW PIs) cover municipal waste. This position is being reviewed as part of the waste strategy review. Composting must be source segregated. Re-use can count towards recycling PIs where there is a ‘formal’ arrangement in place. Metal recovered from incinerator bottom ash can count towards recycling targets.

New statutory performance framework to be instigated from April 2008 includes three municipal waste management indicators and two new climate change indicators. Local Area Agreements (LAAs) must include 20 from the national set (not necessarily to include waste management indicators)

Accounts Commission Performance Indicators for waste management - waste disposal, collection, recycling etc.

The annual municipal waste survey and the collection of NAW Performance Indicators will be combined from 1st April 2004 into a single electronic data collection system known as "WasteDataFlow". The WasteDataFlow system will be managed on behalf of the Assembly Government by Environment Agency Wales.

The WasteDataFlow system is used to collect all statutory returns including lATS returns.

Data Collection by SEPA through WasteDataFlow and Local Authority Waste Arisings Survey.

A municipal waste survey is carried out quarterly using Wastedataflow system from September 2004. The data will be compiled by the District Councils and managed by Environment and Heritage Service.

Wales

England

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Most local authorities are part of a Municipal Waste Benchmarking Club run by the Wales Audit Office.

The Association of Public Service Excellen ce (APSE) and other benchmarking clubs exist.

There are various working groups looking at benchmarking for different services/activities.

No benchmarking club exists in Northern Ireland at present.

Not paid in Wales as the WDA and WCA are combined in each Unitary Authority. Third party recycling payments are paid (e.g. to community sector groups).

Paid between WDAs and WCAs. Flexibility arrangements implemented in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. Presumption in favour of paying discretionary credits to charities under certain circumstances.

Similar situation to Wales – no WDA or WCAs as all unitary authorities –   However,  services delivered by community sector groups in certain areas with recompense being paid through service level agreements with LAs.

Waste Awareness Wales receiving annual core funding to support local authorities and to run national compains. £0.5m p.a. allocated for a National media awareness campaign. Wales committed to the RecycleNow brand.

WRAP running RecycleNow! waste awareness campaign in England.

SWAG (Scottish Waste Awareness Group) running national campaign and working with each local authority to deliver this at a local level also. RecycleNow not applicable in Scotland

Wake up to Waste campaign was launched in February 2002.This is a multimedia campaign to raise awareness of waste issues and encourage public ownership of and participation in sustainable waste management solutions.

CTS funds spent on strategic projects to implement the Wales waste strategy (see ‘Other initiatives’ below).

Business Resource Efficiency in Waste Fund is used to recycle increased landfill tax revenues into the economy. Some of this is available via NISP and Oxfordshire CC scheme to local authorities increasing recycling services to SMEs. Other landfill tax revenues are added to the EPCS Block (Government) grant to local authorities.

LTCS funds used for environmental projects but since 2003 no longer used to directly fund waste management projects. Increase Fund from Scottish Executive has been released for funding community organisations for increased capacity for waste management and recycling in the community sector.

Landfill Tax Credit Scheme to be operated as a transitional scheme until the new scheme is introduced. This is proposed for 2005.

WAG funding a Welsh Local Government Association Peer Review initiative to review the performance of each local authority and identify and disseminate good practice.

WRAP running ROTATE. Other support from WIP. Regional Funding is paid by Local Authority Support Unit (LASU) to promote regional projects helping local authorities increase recycling and reduce waste.

Some WRAP projects also running in Scotland. Remade Scotland also involved in a variety of research and analysis projects. Scottish Government has a dedicated Waste Team.

Some WRAP projects also running in Northern Ireland. Other support from Full Circle and Investment Belfast.

Wales

England

Scotland

Northern Ireland

a) Waste Awareness Wales to lead a home composting promotion programme.

b) Waste Awareness Wales to run a campaign promoting re-useable nappies.

c) Funding support for 2 regional kitchen waste composting demonstration plants, including R&D and market development.

d) WRAP’s recyclate and compost market development programme funded to cover Wales .

WRAP running home composting in England.

WRAP’s market development programmes, including food waste, C&D Waste.

WRAP capital grant schemes have been run for certain types of infrastructure e.g. IVCs.

Subsidised home composting units distributed via WRAP.

WRAP campaigns

The community waste recycling sector is represented by the Wales Community Recycling Network, Cylch. The organisation receives core funding from WAG.

The community waste & recycling sector is represented by the Community Recycling Network, CRN UK .

Community Recycling Network Scotland represents 3rd sector involvement in waste recycling/min/re-use.

The Community Resource Consortium was formed in 2002 to provide finance at a community level.