UK Statutory Instrument 2011 England and Wales

Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011

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At a glance

Enforced by

Environment Agency, OEP, DEFRA, NRW

What's here

24 compliance obligations, 13 practical guides across 4 topics · 15 journeys

Penalty landscape

1 of 24 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 1 carries different penalties and 22 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 6
  • Operator 2
  • Director or Officer 1

Plus 15 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Supporting — topic alignment

8 guides

Mentioned in related content

5 guides
View all 13 guides →

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Operators also bound by 730 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Directors and Officers also bound by 425 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1 — General

Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.001

Citation, commencement and extent

s.003

Interpretation

s.modification of directive 2000/60/ec of the europe

Modification of Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

s.modification of the industrial emissions directive

Modification of the Industrial Emissions Directive

s.modification of the landfill directive

Modification of the Landfill Directive

s.modification of the mining waste directive

Modification of the Mining Waste Directive

s.modification of the waste framework directive

Modification of the Waste Framework Directive

Part 2 — Waste prevention programmes

Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.005

Purposes etc. of waste prevention programmes

Part 3 — Waste management plans

s.008

Content of waste management plans

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Government must ensure waste management plans cover all of England and Wales Crown / Minister / Government department

Part 4 — Waste prevention programmes and waste management plans: general provision

s.009

Directions to the Environment Agency

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State and Welsh Ministers may direct environmental bodies Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 5 — Duties in relation to waste management and improved use of waste as a resource

s.015

Guidance

  • Follow official guidance when carrying out waste duties Any Person
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.interpretation: wales

Interpretation: Wales

Part 6 — Duties of planning authorities

s.018

Exercise of planning functions

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Planning authorities must follow Waste Framework Directive standards Local authority
s.019

Inspections

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Planning authorities must conduct periodic inspections of waste sites Local authority
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 7 — Deposits in the sea

s.022

Exercise of offshore licensing functions

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Authorities must follow waste hierarchy and plans for offshore licensing Crown / Minister / Government department
s.023

Inspections

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Regulators must conduct periodic inspections of offshore waste sites Statutory regulator
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 8 — Registration of carriers, brokers and dealers

s.028

The register

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Environment Agency and NRW must maintain a register of waste businesses Statutory regulator
s.034

Inspections

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Regulators must conduct periodic inspections of waste carriers, brokers and dealers Statutory regulator
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 9 — Transfer of waste

s.035

Waste information

  • Complete and retain waste transfer notes for controlled waste Any Person

Part 10 — Enforcement

Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 10A — Authority to transport controlled waste

Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.specified requirements under section 5 of the cont

Specified requirements under section 5 of the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989

Part 11 — Final provisions

s.049

Review

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must review waste regulations every five years Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Schedules

Browse 99 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
s.sch001

Overall objective

s.sch001

Policies in relation to re-use

s.sch001

Preparing for re-use and recycling targets and landfill reduction targets

s.sch001

(1) This Part applies to a waste management plan that—...

s.sch001

Matters which may be included in a waste management plan

s.sch001

Interpretation

s.sch001

Public participation procedures

s.sch001

Procedures following public participation

s.sch001

The waste prevention measures referred to in regulation 5(c)(iii) are...

s.sch001

The economic instruments and other measures referred to in paragraph...

s.sch001

Application of the waste hierarchy

s.sch001

Protection of human health and the environment

s.sch001

Principles of self-sufficiency and proximity

s.sch001

Analysis of the current waste management situation etc.

s.sch001

General policies in relation to waste and litter

s.sch001

Policies in relation to packaging waste

s.sch001

Policies in relation to separate collection of waste

s.sch001

Policies in relation to bio-waste

s.sch002

The Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 are amended...

s.sch002

In regulation 20(1)(a), omit “or a registered exemption”.

s.sch002

In regulation 35— (a) omit paragraphs (1)(c) and (4);

s.sch002

In regulation 36(1), for “38” substitute “ 39 ”.

s.sch002

Omit regulation 38.

s.sch002

In regulation 42— (a) in paragraph (1), for “regulations 43...

s.sch002

In regulation 43(1), omit “other than a case to which...

s.sch002

Omit regulation 44.

s.sch002

In regulation 47— (a) after paragraph (5)(b), omit “and”;

s.sch002

In regulation 48— (a) in paragraph (3)(c), for “Annex IIA...

s.sch002

In regulation 49— (a) in paragraph (1), for “consignor of...

s.sch002

For regulation 2, substitute— The Waste Directive and the meaning...

s.sch002

In regulation 50(3), after “entered”, insert “ chronologically ”.

s.sch002

In regulation 51(2)(a), omit— (a) “multiple consignment notes and”; and...

s.sch002

In regulations 52(1) and 55(3), for “Annex IIA or Annex...

s.sch002

Omit regulation 57.

s.sch002

In regulation 60— (a) in paragraph (1), for “Article 5”,...

s.sch002

In regulation 65(c), for “44” substitute “ 43 ”.

s.sch002

In the table in regulation 65A(1), for “44” substitute “...

s.sch002

In regulation 69(1)(e), for “44” substitute “ 43 ”.

s.sch002

Omit Schedules 1, 2 and 6.

s.sch002

For Schedule 3, substitute the Schedule set out in Part...

s.sch002

For regulation 3, substitute— Annex III to the Waste Directive...

s.sch002

For Schedule 4, substitute the Schedule set out in Part...

s.sch002

In paragraph 4(3)(a) of Schedule 7, for “43 or 44”...

s.sch002

In paragraph 7 of Schedule 7— (a) in paragraph (1),...

s.sch002

In Schedule 11, omit paragraphs 3 to 6 and 9...

s.sch002

In regulation 4(1), in the definition of “the List of...

s.sch002

In regulation 5— (a) in paragraph (1)—

s.sch002

In regulation 8(1), for “Annexes I, II and III”, substitute...

s.sch002

In regulation 9— (a) in paragraph (1)—

s.sch002

In regulation 18— (a) after the words “it has been”,...

s.sch002

In regulation 19— (a) in paragraph (1), for “(2) and...

s.sch003

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 are amended...

s.sch003

In Schedule 10, for paragraph 5(1)(d), substitute—

s.sch003

In paragraph 2 of Schedule 11, in each definition of...

s.sch003

In paragraph 2(2)(c) of Schedule 12, for “Article 1(1)(a)”, substitute...

s.sch003

In paragraph 2 of Schedule 21, in paragraph (a) of...

s.sch003

In Part 1 of Schedule 25— (a) omit the definitions...

s.sch003

Omit Part 2 of Schedule 25.

s.sch003

In regulation 2— (a) in paragraph (1), for the definition...

s.sch003

In regulation 3, for the definition of “the Waste Framework...

s.sch003

(1) Regulation 72 is renumbered as paragraph (1) of that...

s.sch003

In Part 2 of Schedule 1— (a) in paragraph 1...

s.sch003

In Schedule 2— (a) omit paragraph 2(3);

s.sch003

In Section 2 of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of...

s.sch003

In section 2 of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of...

s.sch003

In Schedule 9— (a) for paragraph 4 substitute— Exercise of...

s.sch004

The Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989

s.sch004

The Environment Act 1995 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 1996

s.sch004

The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999

s.sch004

The Town and Country Planning (Development Plan) (England) Regulations 1999

s.sch004

The Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000

s.sch004

The Town and Country Planning (London Spatial Development Strategy) Regulations 2000

s.sch004

The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003

s.sch004

The End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003

s.sch004

The Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004

s.sch004

The Landfill Allowances and Trading Scheme (England) Regulations 2004

s.sch004

The End-of-Life Vehicles (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2005

s.sch004

The Town and Country Planning Act 1990

s.sch004

The List of Wastes (England) Regulations 2005

s.sch004

The Waste Management (England and Wales) Regulations 2006

s.sch004

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006

s.sch004

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007

s.sch004

The Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007

s.sch004

The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007

s.sch004

The Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008

s.sch004

The Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008

s.sch004

The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations 2009

s.sch004

The Renewables Obligation Order 2009

s.sch004

The Environmental Protection Act 1990

s.sch004

The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009

s.sch004

The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2009

s.sch004

The Environment Act 1995

s.sch004

The Greater London Authority Act 1999

s.sch004

The Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003

s.sch004

The Government of Wales Act 2006

s.sch004

The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987

s.sch004

The Controlled Waste (Registration of Carriers and Seizure of Vehicles) Regulations 1991

Other sections — not classified into a Part

These sections sit outside the numbered Parts — usually provisions added or moved by later amendments.

Browse 3 other sections
s.para.108

SCHEDULE 3 Annex III to the Waste Directive Regulation 3 Properties...

s.para.109

SCHEDULE 4 Regulation 35(2)

s.para.156

The following instruments are revoked to the extent specified. Regulations...

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

Environment Agency

Primary

Environmental protection in England. Regulates waste, emissions, water quality, flood risk, and environmental permits for industrial activities. Enforces environmental law and issues …

OEP

Office for Environmental Protection

Independent body established post-Brexit to scrutinise environmental law and investigate complaints about public authorities' failures to comply with environmental law in England …

DEFRA

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities. Sets environmental policy and works with agencies …

NRW

Natural Resources Wales

Principal environmental regulator for Wales. Combines functions of Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, and Forestry Commission Wales. Issues environmental permits, …

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