Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024

15 Household waste requirements

(1) The Environmental Protection Act 1990 is modified as follows.

(2) Before section 46A insert—

“46ZA Enforcement of household waste requirements: Scotland

(1) An authorised officer of a waste collection authority may give a written warning to a person if satisfied on the balance of probabilities that—

(a) the person has failed without reasonable excuse to comply with a requirement imposed by the authority under section 46(1), (3)(c) or (d) or (4) (a “section 46 requirement”), and

(b) the person's failure to comply—

(i) has caused, or is or was likely to cause, a nuisance, or

(ii) has been, or is or was likely to be, detrimental to any amenities of the locality.

(2) A written warning under subsection (1)—

(a) must—

(i) identify the section 46 requirement with which the person has failed to comply,

(ii) explain the nature of the failure to comply,

(iii) explain how the failure to comply has had, or is or was likely to have, the effect described in subsection (1)(b),

(iv) if the failure to comply is continuing, specify the period within which the requirement must be complied with and explain the consequences of the requirement not being complied with within that period, and

(v) whether or not the failure to comply is continuing, explain the consequences of the person subsequently failing to comply with the same or a similar section 46 requirement, and

(b) may contain such other provision as the waste collection authority considers appropriate.

(3) An authorised officer of a waste collection authority may require a person to whom a written warning under subsection (1) has been given to pay a civil penalty charge to the authority, if satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the person continued to fail to comply with the section 46 requirement identified in the warning after the end of the period for compliance specified in the warning.

(4) An authorised officer of a waste collection authority may require a person who has already been required to pay a civil penalty charge under subsection (3) to pay a further civil penalty charge to the authority, if satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the person’s original failure to comply still continues during the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which the written warning was given.

(5) But a further civil penalty charge may not be required under subsection (4) where there is an appeal pending against the decision to require a charge under subsection (3).

(6) An authorised officer of a waste collection authority may require a person to whom a written warning under subsection (1) has been given to pay a civil penalty charge to the authority, if satisfied on the balance of probabilities that, before the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the day on which the warning was given—

(a) the person—

(i) has again failed without reasonable excuse to comply with the section 46 requirement identified in the warning, or

(ii) has failed without reasonable excuse to comply with a section 46 requirement that is similar to the one identified in the warning, and

(b) the person's failure to comply—

(i) has caused, or is or was likely to cause, a nuisance, or

(ii) has been, or is or was likely to be, detrimental to any amenities of the locality.

(7) An authorised officer may require a person to pay a civil penalty charge under subsection (4) or (6) each time that the authorised officer is satisfied on the balance of probabilities of the matters mentioned in the subsection.

(8) An authorised officer may not give a person a written warning under subsection (1) where, in relation to the same circumstances—

(a) the person has already been given a notice under section 46ZD(2), or

(b) proceedings have already been instituted against the person for an alleged offence under section 46(6).

(9) An authorised officer imposing a requirement to pay a civil penalty charge under subsection (3), (4) or (6) must act in accordance with section 46ZB.

(10) A civil penalty charge under this section is recoverable in like manner as an extract registered decree arbitral bearing a warrant for execution issued by the sheriff for any sheriffdom.

(11) In this section and sections 46ZB to 46ZD—

• an “authorised officer” means an employee of a waste collection authority who is authorised in writing by the authority for the purpose of giving written warnings and requiring payment of civil penalty charges under this section,

• a “civil penalty charge” means a monetary penalty of an amount specified in regulations under section 46ZC.

46ZB Civil penalty charges under section 46ZA: prior notices of intent and final notices

(1) Before requiring a person to pay a civil penalty charge under section 46ZA, an authorised officer must serve on the person notice of intention to do so (a “notice of intent”).

(2) A notice of intent must contain information about—

(a) the grounds for requiring payment of a civil penalty charge,

(b) the amount of the civil penalty charge, and

(c) the person’s entitlement to make representations under subsection (3).

(3) A person on whom a notice of intent is served may, within a period specified in regulations under section 46ZC, make representations to the authorised officer as to why payment of a civil penalty charge should not be required.

(4) In order to require a person to pay a civil penalty charge under section 46ZA, an authorised officer must serve on the person a further notice (the “final notice”) in accordance with subsections (5) to (7).

(5) A final notice may not be served on a person by an authorised officer before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day service of the notice of intent on the person was effected.

(6) Before serving a final notice on a person, an authorised officer must consider any representations made by the person under subsection (3).

(7) A final notice must contain information about—

(a) the grounds for requiring payment of a civil penalty charge,

(b) the amount of the civil penalty charge,

(c) how payment may be made,

(d) the period within which payment is required to be made,

(e) the right to appeal by virtue of section 46ZC(1)(i), and

(f) the consequences of not paying the civil penalty charge.

46ZC Civil penalty charges under section 46ZA: procedure and amount

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision about—

(a) the amount of the civil penalty charge that a person may be required to pay to a waste collection authority under section 46ZA,

(b) discounts and surcharges relating to civil penalty charges under section 46ZA,

(c) the procedure to be followed by an authorised officer in requiring payment of a civil penalty charge under section 46ZA,

(d) the form and content of—

(i) a notice of a civil penalty charge under section 46ZA,

(ii) a notice of intent and a final notice under section 46ZB,

(e) the period within which representations in response to a notice of intent under section 46ZB may be given, and the form in which they may be given,

(f) the matters to be considered by the authority in relation to such representations,

(g) the period for payment of a civil penalty charge under section 46ZA(3), (4) and (6),

(h) the circumstances in which the requirement of a civil penalty charge under section 46ZA may be withdrawn by a waste collection authority,

(i) the appeal procedure in relation to the requirement of a civil penalty charge under section 46ZA.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may—

(a) make incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision,

(b) make different provision for different purposes or for different waste collection authority areas.

46ZD Fixed penalty notices for offences under section 46

(1) This section applies where an authorised officer of a waste collection authority has reason to believe that a person has committed an offence under section 46(6) requirement in the area of that authority.

(2) The authorised officer may give the person a notice offering the person the opportunity of discharging any liability to conviction for the offence by payment of a fixed penalty to the waste collection authority.

(3) Where a person is given a notice under subsection (2) in respect of an offence—

(a) no proceedings may be instituted for that offence before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the date of the notice, and

(b) the person may not be convicted of that offence if the person pays the fixed penalty before the end of that period.

(4) Where a person has already been given a final notice under section 46ZB, and any subsequent civil penalty charge has been paid in full—

(a) no notice may be given to the person under subsection (2) of this section in relation to the same circumstances,

(b) no proceedings may be instituted under section 46(6) against the person in relation to the same circumstances.

(5) A notice under subsection (2) must—

(a) state the particulars of the circumstances alleged to constitute the offence as are necessary for giving reasonable information of the offence,

(b) state the period during which, by virtue of subsection (3), proceedings will not be instituted for the offence,

(c) state the amount of the fixed penalty,

(d) explain that the notice contains an offer to discharge liability to conviction for the offence by payment of a fixed penalty and the person is not required to accept that offer, and

(e) state the person to whom the fixed penalty may be paid, and the address and website for doing so.

(6) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations specify—

(a) the amount of the fixed penalty payable under this section (not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale),

(b) the form of a notice under subsection (2).

(7) An authorised officer of a waste collection authority may require an occupier of domestic property to give the occupier’s name, address and date of birth, if the officer proposes to give the occupier a fixed penalty notice under this section.

(8) A person commits an offence if the person—

(a) fails to give a name, address or date of birth when required to do so under subsection (7), or

(b) gives a false or inaccurate name, address or date of birth in response to a requirement under that subsection.

(9) A person who commits an offence under subsection (8) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(10) In any proceedings a certificate which—

(a) purports to be signed on behalf of the person having responsibility for the financial affairs of the waste collection authority, and

(b) states that payment of a fixed penalty was or was not received by a date specified in the certificate,

is evidence of the facts stated.

46ZE Guidance

(1) The Scottish Ministers must issue guidance on the operation of sections 46ZA to 46ZD.

(2) In preparing guidance under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must consult waste collection authorities.

(3) A waste collection authority, and an authorised officer of a waste collection authority, must have regard to any guidance issued under subsection (1).”.

(3) In section 160A, after the entry relating to section 45AA(10) insert—

“46ZC(1) (civil penalty charges under section 46ZA: procedure and amount)

any regulations under that subsection.”.