SEPA Proposes to Revise Waste Licence Charges
Issued on 21 January 1998 - Ref 3/98

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) announced today that it proposes to raise charges for waste management licences by approximately 20%. Details of the proposed charges have been submitted for the approval of the Secretary of State for Scotland, who will consider any representations made to him on the proposals. Similar increases are proposed for registration of carriers and brokers of waste and for fees for exemptions and inspections to scrap metal dealers and vehicle dismantlers.

In line with the 'polluter pays' principle, fees and charges for waste management licences were introduced in 1994 and are determined on the principles set out in the "Fees and Charges Guide" published by HM Treasury. The financial aim of the SEPA Charging Scheme is full recovery of its costs for dealing with licence applications and supervising licensed activities.

Historically, there has been significant under recovery - current estimates indicate that increases of around 35-40% would be necessary to meet the full costs. As an interim measure, SEPA has proposed that a 20% increase would be appropriate to achieve higher cost recovery this year. These proposals are in line with the increased charges being proposed by the Environment Agency for England and Wales.

As well as advertising the public consultation SEPA is writing to relevant representative bodies and to all current license holders informing them of the proposals. Comments must be sent to Mr Ian McDougall, Environment Protection Unit, Scottish Office, Agriculture Environment and Fisheries Department, Area 1J, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ and received by 19 February 1998.

ENDS

NOTES

SEPA currently licences around 900 waste disposal sites in Scotland.

SEPA can make and revise charging schemes for waste licences under Section 41 of its founding Act, the Environment Act 1995

Full details of the current charging scheme are included in the SEPA publication Waste Management Licensing - (Fees and Charges) (Scotland) Scheme 1997, which is available free from SEPA Public Affairs.

Click here for a copy of the related Public Notice.

SEPA Press Office contacts

Press Officer: Maggie Hamilton. Tel: 01786 457724 Mobile 0370 686073
Head of Public Affairs: Monica Straughan. Tel: 01786 457723 Mobile 0421 942498

SEPA Head Office, Erskine Court, The Castle Business Park, STIRLING FK9 4TR
Tel: 01786 457700 Fax: 01786 448040

Contact SEPA Public Affairs at publicrelations@sepa.org.uk

© SEPA 1998