This page provides links to the full text of key pieces of environmental legislation relating to hazardous waste. The websites hosting the legislation may list amendments separately.

If you are setting up an environmental management system (EMS) for your business, you can use this list to start compiling your legal register. Your legal adviser or environmental consultant will be able to tell you if other environmental legislation applies to your specific business.

Environmental management systems (EMS) and environmental reports

Hazardous waste legislation in Northern Ireland

European Community (EC) Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures 1272/2008 Requires manufacturers, importers and users to follow United Nations criteria for classifying, labelling and packaging hazardous substances and mixtures.

Hazardous Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) SR 2005/300 Details the regime for controlling and tracking the movement of hazardous waste.

Hazardous Waste (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) SR 2005/461 Amends 2005/300 in terms of offences and penalties.

Hazardous Waste (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 SR 238 Amend a number of pieces of legislation to bring into effect the changes introduced by Commission Decision 2014/955/EU amending Decision 2000/532/EC on the list of waste. CD 2000/532/EC is directly binding as regards determination of waste that is to be considered as hazardous waste and the changes introduced by way of the amending decision come into effect on 1 June 2015. Revokes the List of Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005.

Hazardous Waste (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 SR 288

Amend a number of pieces of Northern Ireland legislation to take account of new requirements within EU legislation. They bring into effect the changes introduced by Commission Decision 2014/955/EU amending Decision 2000/532/EC (the Decision) on the list of waste pursuant to Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament of the Council. Commission Decision 2000/532/EC is directly binding as regards determination of waste that is to be considered as hazardous waste. Revokes the List of Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005.

Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order SI 1997/2778 (including updates) Sets out the waste management regime covering waste carrier registration and identifying and remedying contaminated land.

Waste and Contaminated Land (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 Gives the Department of Environment and district councils similar investigative, enforcement and clean up powers to deal with illegally dumped waste. Changes the legislative framework for management of land that has been contaminated by pollution.

Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) SR 2011/127 Requires businesses to apply the waste management hierarchy, introduces a two-tier system for waste carrier registration, establishes waste prevention programmes and makes consequential amendments to various other pieces of legislation.

Special waste legislation in Scotland

European Community (EC) Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures 1272/2008 Requires manufacturers, importers and users to follow United Nations criteria for classifying, labelling and packaging hazardous substances and mixtures.

Environmental Protection Act 1990 Establishes the structure and authority for waste management and control of emissions into the environment.

Special Waste Regulations SI 1996/972 Provides a definition of 'special waste' in Scotland to cover all hazardous waste. Regulates waste carriers by requiring them to complete and keep consignment notes.

Special Waste (Amendment) Regulations SI 1996/2019 Amends 1996/972 by updating the approved supply list, amending the definition of 'household waste', and extending the definition of 'special waste'. Also allows for one set of documents to be required where different waste types are collected on a carrier's round.

Special Waste (Amendment) Regulations SI 1997/251 Amends 1996/972 to revise the qualifications and experience required to deal with special waste.

Special Waste (Scotland) Regulations SI 1997/257 Establishes that managers of specified waste facilities operated by local authorities who meet certain criteria should be treated as technically competent for special waste facilities.

Special Waste Amendment (Scotland) Regulations SSI 2004/112 Amends 1996/972 to define special waste and sets out controls on labelling, packaging and separating it. Also requires consignment notes to be completed when special waste is transferred and producers to keep a register of documents for at least three years.

Special Waste Amendment (Scotland) Amendment Regulations SSI 2004/204 Inserts a new regulation into 1996/972 requiring producers of special waste to keep a register of documents.

The Waste (Meaning of Hazardous Waste and European Waste Catalogue) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2015

Amend a number of pieces of legislation to bring into effect the changes introduced by Commission Decision 2014/955/EU amending Decision 2000/532/EC on the list of waste. Introduces amendments to the list of wastes in the European Waste Catalogue. The changes come into effect on 1 June 2015.

Further legislation

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