5 December 2006

Review points the way for government to remove "unnecessary" waste barriers

The quarrying industry's long-held frustrations over the Government's excessive approach to the regulation of inert waste in relation to quarry restoration have been recognised in the report of the Davidson Review, published (28/11). At the review's launch, Lord Davidson QC confirmed the Chancellor had accepted all of the report's recommendations and that the Government is committed to delivering them.

The Review, commissioned by the Chancellor following the Pre Budget Report of 2005, examined the manner in which European legislation is implemented in the UK and identified where it is over-implemented. One of the findings of the Review is that the regulatory burden associated with managing inert waste is "unnecessary".

With the use of inert waste in quarry restoration currently considered "waste disposal" under the over-zealous UK regulations, producers of such wastes are more inclined to take the materials to disposal sites where regulation is less restrictive. Because of this, some quarry operators are finding that effective restoration is becoming increasingly difficult to carry out in some areas with inert wastes going elsewhere. This in turn makes it more difficult to secure new mineral permissions, as these are contingent on agreed restoration plans when mineral extraction is complete.

The QPA submitted evidence to the Davidson Review in May, highlighting the unlevel playing field that has been created through the Government's interpretation and application of European Directives on inert waste, which was met with agreement by the Review team. As such, Lord Davidson has recommended that "Defra and the EA should conduct a full review of the regulation of inert waste with the aim of adopting a more proportionate and risk-based regulatory landscape. As part of this review, stakeholders should be formally consulted by the end of 2007 on options for reform."

Following the launch of the review, Alan Sheppard, Chairman of QPA's Waste Committee said: "this is a welcome Review with clearly stated recommendations that we now need to make sure are implemented. We have been arguing that the management of inert waste in the UK is burdened by hugely excessive regulation, and the Davidson Review has pointed a way for the Government to resolve this.

QPA will continue to proactively work with the Better Regulation Executive, Defra and the EA to ensure that the commitments made are delivered, securing a level playing field for the regulation of inert waste activities."

Link to the full Davidson Review document at the following address: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/REGULATION/reviewing_regulation/davidson_review

How big is the problem of inert waste for the quarrying industry? Find out on the QPA's website at www.qpa.org/06-release013.htm

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For more information please contact Tim Parry by tel: 0207 9638000 or e-mail parry@qpa.org.

The Quarry Products Association is the principal trade association representing the UK aggregates industry. Our members produce over 90% of aggregates extracted - sand and gravel and crushed rock - as well as silica sand, recycled aggregates, agricultural and industrial lime, asphalt, mortar, and ready-mixed concrete.

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