Written question asked by Lord Vinson (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Bach (Labour) on Thursday, 2 March 2006.

Waste Management

Question: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 10 February (WA 128), whether it will be an offence under proposed regulations for a householder to burn any plastic waste on an open fire; and, if so, what the maximum punishment will be for this offence.

Answer: The Waste Management Licensing (England & Wales) Regulations 2006 (““the regulations””) will amend Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 so that, in particular, it will be an offence for any person (including a householder) to dispose of household waste from a domestic property within the curtilage of that property in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health. After the coming into force of the regulations, if a householder were to burn plastic waste on an open fire within the curtilage of their dwelling they may (depending on the circumstances) be committing a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for any such offence would be, on summary conviction, a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (currently £5,000), or on conviction on indictment, a fine.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 4091; 679 c103-4WA
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Waste Management
Friday, 10 February 2006
Written questions
House of Lords; Waste Management
Wednesday, 15 March 2006
Written questions
House of Lords; Waste Management
Wednesday, 15 March 2006
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Domestic waste Fires Punishment Plastics Waste disposal
Legislation: Waste Mangement Licensing (England and Wales) Regulations 2006
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk