UK Act of Parliament 2016 Wales

Environment (Wales) Act 2016

An Act of the National Assembly for Wales to promote sustainable management of natural resources; to provide for targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases; to reform the law on charges for carrier bags; to provide for the separate collection of waste, prohibit disposal of food waste to sewers and …

Enforced by
DEFRA, NRW
Status
Amended (in force with amendments)
Penalty ceiling
Prosecution 2 of 24 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 1 carries different penalties and 21 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Any Person2 Occupier2 Trader1

Plus 19 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.

Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts
Occupier — also bound by 235 other Acts
Trader — also bound by 825 other Acts

What it requires

Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

7 of 27 sections shown
s.007 Biodiversity lists and duty to take steps to maintain and enhance biodiversity (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must maintain and enhance biodiversity listsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.008 Duty to prepare and publish state of natural resources report (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • NRW must prepare and publish state of natural resources reportsStatutory regulator
s.009 Duty to prepare, publish and implement national natural resources policy (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must prepare, publish and implement natural resources policyCrown / Minister / Government department
s.011 Area statements (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • NRW must produce and implement Area Statements for natural resourcesStatutory regulator
s.012 Welsh Ministers' directions to implement area statements (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers may direct public bodies to implement area statementsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.014 Duty of public bodies to provide information or other assistance to NRW (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Public bodies must provide information or assistance to NRWCrown / Minister / Government department
s.015 Duty of NRW to provide information or other assistance to public bodies (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • NRW must provide information and assistance to public bodiesStatutory regulator
20 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Part 2

CLIMATE CHANGE

13 of 26 sections shown
s.029 The 2050 emissions target (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must ensure Wales reaches net zero emissions by 2050Crown / Minister / Government department
s.030 Interim emissions targets (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must set and meet interim emissions targetsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.031 Carbon budgets (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must set and meet five-year carbon budgetsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.032 Emissions targets and carbon budgets: principles (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must set climate targets and carbon budgetsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.039 Proposals and policies for meeting carbon budget (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must publish reports on meeting carbon budgetsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.040 Carrying amounts from one budgetary period to another (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers may adjust carbon budgets between periodsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.041 Final statement for budgetary period (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must report on carbon budget performanceCrown / Minister / Government department
s.042 Proposals and policies where carbon budget not met (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must report on plans to fix carbon budget overspendsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.043 Statements for interim target years and 2050 (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must publish emissions and carbon unit statementsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.045 Progress reports (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must respond to climate progress reportsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.046 Duty of advisory body to provide advice and assistance (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Advisory body must provide climate change advice to Welsh MinistersStatutory regulator
s.047 Guidance to advisory body (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Natural Resources Wales must follow guidance from Welsh MinistersStatutory regulator
s.051 Measurement of emissions (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Standard unit of measurement for greenhouse gas emissionsAny Person
13 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Part 3

CHARGES FOR CARRIER BAGS

1 of 11 sections shown
Part 4

COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE

2 of 6 sections shown
s.065 Requirements relating to separate collection etc. of waste (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Fail to comply with waste separation requirements in WalesOccupier

Unlimited fine

s.066 Prohibition on disposal of food waste to sewer (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Illegal disposal of food waste into public sewersOccupier

Unlimited fine

4 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Part 5

FISHERIES FOR SHELLFISH

0 of 5 sections shown
Part 6

MARINE LICENSING

0 of 5 sections shown
Part 7

MISCELLANEOUS

0 of 6 sections shown
Part 8

GENERAL

0 of 3 sections shown
3 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
Schedules

Schedules

1 of 51 shown
s.001 CHARGES FOR CARRIER BAGS: CIVIL SANCTIONS (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Breach of carrier bag charging regulationsAny Person

Fine up to £5,000

50 other schedules
s.sch001 (1) Carrier bag regulations may make provision about civil sanctions...
s.sch001 (1) Carrier bag regulations may not provide for the making...
s.sch001 (1) Carrier bag regulations may confer on an administrator the...
s.sch001 (1) Carrier bag regulations may make provision about the persons...
s.sch001 (1) Where carrier bag regulations confer power on an administrator...
s.sch001 (1) Where carrier bag regulations confer power on an administrator...
s.sch001 Carrier bag regulations may not confer power on an administrator...
s.sch001 (1) The Welsh Ministers must review the operation of any...
s.sch001 (1) Where carrier bag regulations confer power on an administrator...
s.sch001 Where pursuant to any provision made under this Schedule an...
s.sch001 In this Schedule, the following expressions are defined or otherwise...
s.sch001 (1) Carrier bag regulations may confer on an administrator the...
s.sch001 (1) Carrier bag regulations that make provision under paragraph 2...
s.sch001 (1) Carrier bag regulations may confer on an administrator the...
s.sch001 (1) Carrier bag regulations that make provision under paragraph 4...
s.sch001 (1) If carrier bag regulations make provision under paragraph 4,...
s.sch001 (1) Carrier bag regulations may not make provision under paragraphs...
s.sch001 (1) If carrier bag regulations confer power on an administrator...
s.sch001 (1) If carrier bag regulations make provision under paragraph 4,...
s.sch002 (1) The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act...
s.sch002 (1) The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 is...
s.sch002 In Schedule 2 to the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, omit...
s.sch002 (1) The Climate Change Act 2008 is amended as follows....
s.sch002 (1) The Waste (Wales) Measure 2010 is amended as follows....
s.sch002 (1) The Environmental Protection Act 1990 is amended as follows....
s.sch002 In the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003, omit section 2....
s.sch002 In Schedule 11 to the Government of Wales Act 2006,...
s.sch002 (1) The Waste (Wales) Measure 2010 is amended as follows....
s.sch002 In the Schedule to the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings)...
s.sch002 In section 25(1)(d) of the Local Government Act 1974, omit...
s.sch002 (1) The Countryside Act 1968 is amended as follows.
s.sch002 (1) The Water Resources Act 1991 is amended as follows....
s.sch002 In section 1(1)(a) of the Land Drainage Act 1991, after...
s.sch002 In section 6 of the Environment Act 1995—
s.sch002 In Part 6 of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of...
s.sch002 In Schedule 3 to the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act...
s.sch002 (1) The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 is amended...
s.sch002 (1) The Public Bodies Act 2011 is amended as follows....
s.sch002 In Schedule 10 to the Water Act 2014, omit paragraph...
s.sch002 (1) The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act...
s.sch002 In section 41(7A) of the Countryside Act 1968, for “Council”...
s.sch002 (1) The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is amended as...
s.sch002 (1) The Local Government Byelaws (Wales) Act 2012 is amended...
s.sch002 In section 22(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984—...
s.sch002 In section 156(8) of the Water Industry Act 1991, in...
s.sch002 (1) The Environment Act 1995 is amended as follows.
s.sch002 In section 90 of the Countryside and Rights of Way...
s.sch002 (1) The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 is amended...
s.sch002 (1) The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 is...

Help complying

Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.

Running visitor accommodation in Wales

Complete guide to registration and compliance for visitor accommodation providers in Wales. Covers the mandatory accommodation register, the Wales Visitor Levy, business …

Starting a business in Wales

Comprehensive guide to Wales-specific requirements when starting a business. Covers the key regulatory divergences from England, including business rates, the Welsh language, …

Construction compliance in Wales

How construction compliance differs in Wales, covering the devolved planning system, mandatory SuDS approval, environmental permitting through Natural Resources Wales, and the …

Quick check: Wales-specific requirements

Quick checklist of key Wales-specific differences from England. Check business rates, planning, Welsh language, environmental permits, workplace recycling, and Land Transaction Tax.

Quick check: running a food business in Wales

Quick compliance check for Wales-specific food business obligations. Covers mandatory hygiene ratings, food waste separation, registration, and environmental permits.

Respond to a poor food hygiene rating in Wales

Problem path for food business operators in Wales who have received a food hygiene rating of 0, 1, or 2. Covers immediate …

Doing business in Wales: key differences from England

Reference guide summarising the key regulatory divergences between Wales and England for businesses. Covers planning, business rates, Land Transaction Tax, Welsh language, …

Environmental permits for food businesses in Wales

How to identify and apply for the environmental permits your food business needs from Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Covers trade effluent consent, …

Environmental permits in Wales: applying to NRW

How to apply for environmental permits in Wales through Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Covers the main permit types (environmental, waste, water abstraction, …

Manage food waste in Wales: mandatory separation rules for food businesses

How to comply with Wales mandatory food waste separation requirements under the Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2023. Covers the 5kg per …

Starting a food business in Wales: what you need to know

Overview of what makes starting a food business in Wales different from the rest of the UK. Covers the mandatory Food Hygiene …

Workplace recycling requirements in Wales

Mandatory workplace waste separation requirements in Wales under the Workplace Recycling Regulations, in force from 6 April 2024. Covers the six waste …

1 more guide that reference this instrument

Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.