• “the Packaging Waste Directive” means the European Parliament and Council Directive of 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste5;

• “public consultees” means the persons to whose attention proposals for the waste management strategy are brought by the Department pursuant to Article 19B(1)(b);

• “waste management strategy” means the strategy prepared or modified pursuant to Article 19.

• “the Waste Directive” means Directive 2006/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, dated 5 April 2006, on waste;

Waste management strategy19

1

The Department shall have a waste management strategy containing its policies in relation to the recovery and disposal of waste in Northern Ireland.

2

The Department may from time to time modify the waste management strategy.

3

The waste management strategy shall consist of a statement which relates to the whole of Northern Ireland.

4

The waste management strategy shall include—

a

a statement of the Department’s policies for attaining the objectives specified in Schedule 3;

b

in pursuance of the objectives and measures referred to in the Packaging Waste Directive, a chapter on the management of packaging and packaging waste, including measures taken pursuant to Articles 4 and 5 of that Directive; and

c

provisions relating to the following—

i

the type, quantity and origin of waste to be recovered or disposed of;

ii

general technical requirements;

iii

any special arrangements for particular wastes;

iv

suitable disposal sites or installations; and

v

the management of hazardous waste.

5

In preparing the waste management strategy the Department—

a

shall consult district councils and such other bodies or persons appearing to it to be representative of the interests of industry as it considers appropriate, and may consult such other bodies or persons as it considers appropriate;

b

may carry out a survey or investigation into—

i

the kinds or quantities of waste which it appears to it is likely to be situated in Northern Ireland,

ii

the facilities which are or appear to it likely to be available or needed in Northern Ireland for recovering or disposing of any such waste,

iii

any other matter which the Department considers appropriate in connection with its preparation of the strategy.

6

Before carrying out a survey or investigation under paragraph (5)(b), the Department shall consult such bodies or persons appearing to it to be representative of the interests of industry as it may consider appropriate, and shall consult such other bodies or persons as it may consider appropriate.

7

The Department shall make its findings available to any bodies or persons it consults in accordance with paragraph (5)(a) or (6).

Application of public participation procedures19A

1

Articles 19B and 19C apply to the modification of the waste management strategy as they apply to the preparation of such a strategy.

2

Articles 19B and 19C do not apply to—

a

a waste management strategy designed for the sole purpose of serving national defence or prepared in case of civil emergency; or

b

a waste management strategy for which a public participation procedure is carried out under the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 20047.

Public participation procedures19B

1

As soon as reasonably practicable after preparing proposals for the waste management strategy the Department shall—

a

send a copy of the proposals to the persons or bodies mentioned in Article 19(5)(a);

b

take such steps as it considers appropriate to bring the proposals to the attention of the persons who in its opinion—

i

are, or are likely to be, affected by the strategy, or

ii

have an interest in the strategy;

c

inform the public consultees of the address (which may include a website)—

i

at which a copy of the proposals may be viewed,

ii

from which a copy of the proposals may be obtained;

d

invite the persons or bodies mentioned in Article 19(5)(a) and the public consultees to express their opinion on the proposals, specifying the address to which, and the period within which, opinions must be sent.

2

The period referred to in paragraph (1) (d) shall be of such length as will ensure that the persons or bodies mentioned in Article 19(5)(a) and the public consultees are given an early and effective opportunity to express their opinion on the proposals.

3

The Department shall keep a copy of the proposals for inspection by the public at all reasonable times free of charge.

4

Nothing in paragraph (1) (c) requires the Department to provide copies of the proposals free of charge; but where a charge is made, it shall be of a reasonable amount.

Procedures following public participation19C

1

Before decisions on the waste management strategy are made the Department shall take account of any opinions expressed in accordance with Article 19B(1)(d).

2

As soon as reasonably practicable after making decisions on the waste management strategy the Department shall—

a

inform the persons or bodies mentioned in Article 19(5)(a) and the public consultees of the matters set out in paragraph (4);

b

take such steps as it considers appropriate to bring the matters in paragraph (4) to the attention of the public;

c

if it has adopted the waste management strategy, make a copy of the strategy available for inspection by the public at all reasonable times and free of charge.

3

Nothing in paragraph (2)(c) requires the Department to provide copies of the adopted waste management strategy free of charge, but where a charge is made, it shall be of a reasonable amount.

4

The matters are—

a

the decisions made by the Department on the waste management strategy;

b

the reasons and considerations upon which those decisions are based; and

c

information about the public participation procedures under Article 19B.