Environment Agency charge proposal for notified international waste shipments

Overview

The Environment Agency has an obligation to recover the costs of regulating waste shipments subject to notification controls (known as notified waste) through charges to waste importers and exporters. We review our charging schemes regularly and consult with the public whenever we make changes. The most recent amendments to the international waste shipment (IWS) charges took place in 2012.

Waste shipment notification controls aim to protect the environment and human health during the shipment and management of waste so all notified waste is shipped in a controlled manner. This means all relevant competent authorities are aware of what is being imported and or exported to and or from their country and when. This protects the environment internationally as well the health, safety, and wellbeing of the residents of each country by making sure waste is recovered or disposed of by suitable methods. The controls make sure waste is shipped to a destination which can process the materials, therefore avoiding improper disposal, recovery or management of the waste and pollution of the environment.

We have powers under legislation to recover the cost of some of our regulatory activities from people and organisations that require environmental regulation. This is to make sure that these activities are not funded by the taxpayer.

This consultation outlines our proposed charging structure for regulating waste shipments sent under notification controls. We have outlined the new proposed charging structure in a way which helps you to understand all the changes. We would like to know if you agree with our proposals and welcome your suggestions on whether we can make them fairer in any way. 

We are asking you to share your views on the following

Shipments - this covers the definition of a single shipment and proposed changes to shipment charging bands.

Proposed charge scheme - this covers the proposed changes to charges listed in the current charging scheme.

Refunds - this covers proposed changes to our refunds policy.

Why your views matter

We would like you to share your views so we can understand the impacts and benefits, as you consider them, of the proposals outlined in this consultation. We would also like to hear any suggestions on how we can improve these proposals.

• This consultation runs from 4 October 2023 until midnight on 29 November 2023 and you can view the consultation document by clicking on the relevant link in the 'related' section at the end of this page. 

Please note it is not necessary to provide a response to every question. If you respond online and provide an email address, your response will be automatically acknowledged.

Responding to the consultation

Please submit your response using this online consultation tool, as it provides an easy and efficient way to respond. It will also help us to: 

•    gather all responses in one place
•    summarise responses quickly and accurately
•    reduce the cost of the consultation 

If you prefer, you can download the response form and email the completed form using the subject header 'Charge consultation: international waste shipments notified waste' to enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Ask for a printed version

Please contact us if you need a printed version of the consultation document to be posted to you.

You can do this by contacting our:

     National Customer Contact Centre 
     Telephone: 03708 506 506  
     Minicom for the hard of hearing: 03702 422 549 
     Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm:
     Telephone from outside the UK: +44(0)114 282 5312

The consultation will close at midnight on 29 November 2023. We will consider all responses received by this date before finalising our proposals to submit for approval by government.

We are running this consultation in accordance with the guidance set out in the government’s consultation principles.

If you have any questions or complaints about the way this consultation has been carried out, please contact consultation.enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Please click on the ‘online consultation’ link below to answer the consultation questions.

What happens next

We are continuing to analyse the responses and develop the final charging scheme. Our response to this consultation will be published no later than the new charging scheme and will be made available on GOV.UK.