Special Waste Regulations 1996

This updates the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980 on defining special wastes in order to conform to EU legislation on hazardous wastes. The regulations also detail the consignment note system that requires waste to be accompanied by a note from the point of production to disposal.

Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005

Until 15 July 2005, the Hazardous Waste Directive was transposed in England by the Special Waste Regulations 1996 (as amended). From 16 July the Directive is transposed by the Hazardous waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 and the List of Waste (England) Regulations.

While the Special Waste regime was in force in the UK, the European Commission revised its list of hazardous waste and incorporated it into the European Waste Catalogue. The revised list includes a number of waste streams not previously considered to be hazardous, including televisions, computer monitors, fluorescent lighting and end-of-life vehicles.

Defra consulted on new Hazardous Waste Regulations for England in July 2004, and the new Regulations based on the consultation responses come into force on 16 July 2005. The new regime includes a requirement for most producers of hazardous waste to notify their premises to the Environment Agency. The facility to notify premises has been available from April 2005.

Defra published interim guidance on premises notification in January 2005.