Waste (Wales) Measure 2010
The Waste (Wales) Measure 2010 (‘the Measure’) makes provision to reduce the amount of waste and litter in Wales and to contribute to the development of a more effective and sustainable approach to waste management arrangements. The Measure:
- amends Schedule 6 of the Climate Change Act 2008 to provide Welsh Ministers with a power to require retailers to pass on the net proceeds of a charge on single-use carrier bags to specified purposes or specified persons;
- establishes statutory targets for the percentage of a local authority’s municipal waste to be recycled, with the aim of ensuring that Wales becomes a “high recycling society”;
- provides Welsh Ministers with powers to establish other waste targets to be met by local authorities and to establish financial penalties in the event of non-compliance;
- provides Welsh Ministers with a power to ban or restrict the deposit of specified kinds of waste in a landfill site in Wales; and
- provides Welsh Ministers with a power to make regulations about fees and charging schemes in relation to site waste management plans which will be introduced for the construction and demolition sector in Wales.
The Explanatory Notes to the Measure provide detailed commentary on the various provisions.
Coming into force
Section 3 of the Measure came into force in accordance with provision made by the Welsh Ministers by order, in accordance with section 21(1).
The following Order has been made:
The Waste (Wales) Measure 2010 (Commencement) Order 2011
The remaining provisions came into force at the end of the two-month period following Royal Approval (in other words on 15 February 2011), in accordance with section 21(2).
Subordinate legislation made under the Measure:
| Title | Citation number | Made date | Coming into force date | Supporting documents |
| The Prohibition on the Incineration, or the Deposit in Landfill, of Specified Waste (Wales) Regulations 2023 | 2023 No. 1289 (W. 227) | 29 November 2023 | 6 April 2024 | Explanatory Memorandum |
| The Waste (Meaning of Recovery) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2016 | 2016 No. 691 (W.189) | 28 June 2016 | 31 July 2016 | Explanatory Memorandum |
| The Recycling, Preparation for Re-use and Composting Targets (Monitoring and Penalties) (Wales) Regulations 2011 | 2011 No. 1014 (W.152) | 29 March 2011 | 30 March 2011 | Explanatory Memorandum |
| The Recycling, Preparation for Re-use and Composting Targets (Definitions) (Wales) Order 2011 | 2011 No. 551 (W.77) | 25 February 2011 | 30 March 2011 | Explanatory Memorandum |
Consideration of the legislation by the Senedd
The Measure was introduced on 22 February 2010 by Jane Davidson AM, who was the Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing at the time. The Measure was passed by Senedd Cymru (known then as the National Assembly for Wales) on 2 November 2010.
More information about the Measure is available on the Senedd website including a record of the passage of the Measure through the Senedd and the Explanatory Memorandum which was prepared by the Welsh Government (as amended after Stage 2 consideration).
The Measure received Royal Approval on 15 December 2010.
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