New waste regulations, set to start on April 6, will see farmers and growers saving more than £4m in potential costs thanks to successful NFU lobbying. The changes, agreed in September, means the government has agreed not to charge farmers for registering everyday waste exemptions.
Originally the government had proposed replacing the exemptions with a system where farmers were charged every three years. But the NFU has succeeded in getting these charges dropped - arguing that such proposals would impose yet more cost burdens on the industry, discourages recycling and ultimately result in farmers sending more waste to landfill.
NFU lobbying has also resulted in:
• Retaining the exemption for land spreading of poultry and pig carcass ash. It was proposed that farmers could only spread waste ash under a complicated environmental permit which could have cost in the region of £1,000.
• A new revised exemption for use of waste in construction will allow farmers to import tarmac road planings for use in farm tracks and should hopefully allow coastal farmers to repair earthen sea walls.
• Disappointingly the regulations will no longer allow plastic wires entangled on the haulm of glasshouse plants, such as tomatoes, to be burnt. There are serious concerns on the financial impact this could have on tomato growers. However NFU pressure has lead to a temporary extension till 2013.
NFU environmental policy adviser Aarun Naik said: “We welcome the Government’s decision not to charge farmers for registering everyday waste exemptions.
“The NFU has lobbied hard against these charges as their introduction could have resulted in over four million pounds taken out of the farming industry and into the pockets of the Environment Agency each year.
“Recycling and responsible management of waste must be not be discouraged by introducing more costs onto industry, especially in the current economic climate.”
Notes to editors:
1. The regulations, which come into force in England and Wales on April 6, will see changes to the system of waste management exemptions.
2. A transitional period has been granted up to October 2013 to allow farmers to gradually move to the new system.
3. Under the new regulations farmers will be expected to re-register their relevant exemptions every three years. Registration will be free of charge.
4. Some of the existing ‘complex exemptions’ covering activities such as commercial composting and landspreading of certain wastes will be gradually phased out. Farming businesses making use of such exemptions will have to decide whether to apply to the Environment Agency for a new look environmental permit to continue such activities.
No comments have been made.