From: ian blenkharn@ianblenkharn.com
Category: Policy & regulations
Date: 27 Nov 2009
Time: 18:04:57 +0100
Remote Name: 81.154.185.129
The House of Lords Merits Committee has criticised the Government, in a damning new report, for failing to examine whether each significant piece of secondary legislation, including waste legislation, is achieving its intended outcome.
The Committee examines the merits of any statutory or other legislative instrument which is subject to parliamentary procedure. The new report is entitled What happened next? (12 November) and one of the case studies assessed in the inquiry is the Waste (Household Waste Duty of Care) (England and Wales) Regulations 2005. The regulations place a “duty of care” on producers of waste to take responsibility for ensuring their waste is managed without harm to human health or the environment.
When the Committee reviewed the legislation in 2005 it was “concerned that not enough had been done to inform householders that they would shortly be subject to the new duty”. Its current view states: “Although some publicity has now been undertaken it still appears to be piecemeal, with some areas faring better than others. Our concern remains that householders may still be in ignorance of a duty that could result in a £5,000 fine if breached.”
Many will already be aware that I am all in favour of more meaningful legislation firmly rooted in sound science. Legislation that is honest, open and even-handed legislation, and is applied to that same standard. This applies to all corners of the waste industries, and will no doubt be a short across the bows of DEFRA and of the Environment Agency in particular. For those in doubt about my views in the matter see Quo Vadis? Science and Regulation as Uneasy Bedfellows.