Following the Government October announcement to change the system to provide wider level of regulatory tools and greater flexibility around enforcement, Axil is well-prepared to continue providing compliant services within this new regime.
In January 2022, as part of the Government’s initiative to combat fly tipping and other waste-related crime, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) proposed significant changes to the waste carrier, broker, and dealer registration system in England.
These reforms aim to streamline terminology, introducing the classifications of “waste controllers” and “waste transporters.”
Definitions:
- Transporters: “those who are instructed by a controller to move waste between locations without input on the end destination and classification (for example, hauliers, contractors, delivery drivers)”
- Controllers: “those who organise waste collection, or its classification, transportation, end destination (for example, brokers, dealers, consultants, waste sites), or arrange the recovery or disposal of waste on behalf of others, and those who buy or sell waste. For avoidance of doubt, this includes those who do not take physical possession of the waste when performing those activities”
- Controller-transporters: “those who organise waste collection, or its classification, transportation, end destination or arrange the recovery or disposal of waste on behalf of others, those who buy or sell waste and also collect and transport it (for example, waste sites with their own transporter, skip companies, waste collection companies)”.
Currently, companies in England acting as brokers or carriers of waste must register with the Environment Agency under low tier or upper tier classifications. This system will be replaced with either a ‘standard rules’ environmental permit or a registered exemption.
Three permit types (“waste controller only,” “waste transporter only,” and a combined “waste controller-transporter” permit) are proposed.
The Environment Agency is planning to issue further detail on the types of standard rules permits and the conditions of these in due course.
Duty of care
Waste producers must continue to ensure their waste is appropriately classified and managed throughout its journey.
This will not change, and producers will not be required to apply for a permit or registered exemption, provided they are passing waste to a permitted waste site, a permitted waste controller or a permitted waste controller-transporter, or alternatively allowing an operator with a waste controller permit to make arrangements on their behalf.
Technical competence
Aligned with the Environmental Permitting Regulations, waste companies must demonstrate technical competence.
Producers requiring a waste controller permit must meet these requirements and undergo periodic reassessment. Axil’s Technical Assessors are prepared for these requirements.
Permit validity
Permits are valid for three years and must be renewed or they will lapse.
Producers are accountable for ensuring waste is passed to appropriately permitted entities. “controller” / “transporter” / “controller – transporter”.
Including the permit number on paperwork or vehicles used for waste collection is proposed to help producers confirm they are meeting their Duty of Care effectively in confirming they were passing their waste on to an appropriate body.
Transition phases
The introduction of the new system will be phased based on whether a current broker/carrier is low or high tier.
Low-tier registered companies must register within 12 months of the “go live” date, while upper-tier companies, including Axil, will apply as their current registration nears renewal.
Axil is ready
We have several Technical Assessors ready for the upcoming Technical Competence requirements, along with a dedicated Transport Manager and holders of WAMITAB certificates of Technical Competence.
This positions us to seamlessly adapt to the evolving waste management landscape for both our existing and new customers.
Our commitment to compliance, efficiency, and sustainability seamlessly aligns with our company’s Sustainability Charter.
Together, we work towards a more sustainable future, where every action taken by Axil reflects our mutual commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability.