http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/43/section/60Environmental Protection Act 1990An Act to make provision for the improved control of pollution arising from certain industrial and other processes; to re-enact the provisions of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 relating to waste on land with modifications as respects the functions of the regulatory and other authorities concerned in the collection and disposal of waste and to make further provision in relation to such waste; to restate the law defining statutory nuisances and improve the summary procedures for dealing with them, to provide for the termination of the existing controls over offensive trades or businesses and to provide for the extension of the Clean Air Acts to prescribed gases; to amend the law relating to litter and make further provision imposing or conferring powers to impose duties to keep public places clear of litter and clean; to make provision conferring powers in relation to trolleys abandoned on land in the open air; to amend the Radioactive Substances Act 1960; to make provision for the control of genetically modified organisms; to make provision for the abolition of the Nature Conservancy Council and for the creation of councils to replace it and discharge the functions of that Council and, as respects Wales, of the Countryside Commission; to make further provision for the control of the importation, exportation, use, supply or storage of prescribed substances and articles and the importation or exportation of prescribed descriptions of waste; to confer powers to obtain information about potentially hazardous substances; to amend the law relating to the control of hazardous substances on, over or under land; to amend section 107(6) of the Water Act 1989 and sections 31(7)(a), 31A(2)(c)(i) and 32(7)(a) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974; to amend the provisions of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 as regards the dumping of waste at sea; to make further provision as respects the prevention of oil pollution from ships; to make provision for and in connection with the identification and control of dogs; to confer powers to control the burning of crop residues; to make provision in relation to financial or other assistance for purposes connected with the environment; to make provision as respects superannuation of employees of the Groundwork Foundation and for remunerating the chairman of the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council; and for purposes connected with those purposes.1990-11-01texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-07-29Expert Participation2026-07-24 Environmental Protection Act 1990s. 33(10A)Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024s. 20(2)(a)s. 27(2)Environmental Protection Act 1990s. 34(6A)Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024s. 20(2)(b)s. 27(2)Environmental Protection Act 1990s. 44ZA(2)(aa)Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024s. 16(3)(c)s. 27(2)Environmental Protection Act 1990s. 44ZZACircular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024s. 16(2)s. 27(2)Environmental Protection Act 1990s. 47BCircular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024s. 17(2)s. 27(2)Environmental Protection Act 1990s. 33ZB(10A)Environment Act 2021s. 69(3)(b)s. 144s. 147(3)(4)Environmental Protection Act 1990s. 34ZB(8A)Environment Act 2021s. 69(5)(b)s. 144s. 147(3)(4)Environmental Protection Act 1990s. 161(2AA)(2AB)Environment (Wales) Act 2016Deddf yr Amgylchedd (Cymru) 2016s. 69(4)s. 88(3)(b)Environmental Protection Act 1990s. 34CZA and cross-headingCrime and Policing Act 2026s. 9s. 255(1)Environmental Protection Act 1990s. 34(1ZA)The Environmental Permitting (Waste Controlling or Transporting) and Relevant Functions of Primary Authorities (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026reg. 24(3)(b)reg. 27-30reg. 1(2)Environmental Protection Act 1990s. 34(3)(g)(h)The Environmental Permitting (Waste Controlling or Transporting) and Relevant Functions of Primary Authorities (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026reg. 24(3)(c)(ii)reg. 27-30reg. 1(2) Part II601No person shall sort over or disturb—aanything deposited at a place for the deposit of waste provided by a waste collection authority, by or under arrangements made with a waste disposal authority or by any other local authority or person ;banything deposited in a receptacle for waste, whether for public or private use, provided by a waste collection authority, by or under arrangements made with a waste disposal authority, by a parish or community council or by a holder of a waste management licence; orcthe contents of any receptacle for waste which, in accordance with a requirement under section 46 or 47 above, is placed on any highway or, in Scotland, road or in any other place with a view to its being emptied;unless he has the relevant consent or right to do so specified in subsection (2) below.2The consent or right that is relevant for the purposes of subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c) above is—ain the case of paragraph (a), the consent of the authority . . . or other person who provides the place for the deposit of the waste;bin the case of paragraph (b), the consent of the authority . . . or other person who provides the receptacle for the deposit of the waste;cin the case of paragraph (c), the right to the custody of the receptacle, the consent of the person having the right to the custody of the receptacle or the right conferred by the function by or under this Part of emptying such receptacles.3A person who contravenes subsection (1) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of an amount not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.601No person shall sort over or disturb—aanything deposited at a place for the deposit of waste provided by a waste collection authority, by a waste disposal contractor under arrangements made with a waste disposal authority or by any other local authority or person or, in Scotland, by a waste disposal authority;banything deposited in a receptacle for waste, whether for public or private use, provided by a waste collection authority, by a waste disposal contractor under arrangements made with a waste disposal authority, by a parish or community council or by a holder of a waste management licence or, in Scotland, by a waste disposal authority or a roads authority; orcthe contents of any receptacle for waste which, in accordance with a requirement under section 46 or 47 above, is placed on any highway or, in Scotland, road or in any other place with a view to its being emptied;unless he has the relevant consent or right to do so specified in subsection (2) below.2The consent or right that is relevant for the purposes of subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c) above is—ain the case of paragraph (a), the consent of the authority, contractor or other person who provides the place for the deposit of the waste;bin the case of paragraph (b), the consent of the authority, contractor or other person who provides the receptacle for the deposit of the waste;cin the case of paragraph (c), the right to the custody of the receptacle, the consent of the person having the right to the custody of the receptacle or the right conferred by the function by or under this Part of emptying such receptacles.3A person who contravenes subsection (1) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of an amount not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.Pt. II partly in force at 31.5.1991 see s. 164(3) and S.I. 1991/1319, art. 2Pt. II partly in force at 13.12.1991 and for certain purposes at 01.04.1992 by S.I.1991/2829, arts. 2, 4.Pt. II: power to make corresponding provisions conferred (27.7.1999) by 1999 c. 24, s. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I para. 20(1)(a)Pt. II (ss. 29-78) amended: (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/588, reg. 8; (1.5.1994) by S.I. 1994/1056, regs. 1(3), 19, Sch. 4 para. 9 (as amended (E.W.) (15.5.3006) by S.I. 2006/937, reg. 6(10)(a))Pt. II (ss. 29-78) modified: (1.2.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 5(5)(e) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117) and S.I. 1996/186, art.2; (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 33(5)(e) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3Pt. II (ss. 29-78): certain functions transferred on transfer date (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, ss. 2(1)(b)(ii), 21(1)(b)(ii), 56(1) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3, S.I. 1995/2649, art. 2 and S.I. 1995/1983, art. 2 (by which respectively s. 56 is in force from 28.7.1995, s. 21 is in force from 12.10.1995 and s. 2 is in force from 1.4.1996); S.I. 1996/136, art. 2; S.I. 1996/234), art. 2 (specifying transfer date)Pt. II (ss. 29-78) extended (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(2), Sch. 23 para. 13 (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3S. 60 wholly in force at 1.5.1994; s. 60 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 164(3); s. 60 in force for certain purposes at 31.5.1991 by S.I. 1991/1319, art. 2; s. 60 in force at 1.5.1994 by S.I. 1994/1096, art. 2(1)Words in s. 60(1)(a) substituted (E.W.) (18.10.2005 for E. and 16.3.2006 for W.) by Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (c. 16), ss. 106, 108, Sch. 4 para. 4(a); S.I. 2005/2896, art. 3(i); S.I. 2006/768, art. 2(c)Words in s. 60(1)(b) substituted (E.W.) (18.10.2005 for E. and 16.3.2006 for W.) by Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (c. 16), ss. 106, 108, Sch. 4 para. 4(b); S.I. 2005/2896, art. 3(i); S.I. 2006/768, art. 2(c)This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland onlyWords in s. 60(2)(a)(b) repealed (E.W.) (18.10.2005 for E. and 16.3.2006 for W.) by Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (c. 16), ss. 107, 108, Sch. 5 Pt. 4; S.I. 2005/2896, art. 3(k); S.I. 2006/768, art. 2(d)This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales onlyPt. 2 modified (S.) (27.3.2011) by The Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/228), reg. 1(1), sch. 4 para. 11 (with regs. 31-33)Pt. 2 modified (E.W.) (6.4.2012) by The Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/811), regs. 1(3), 5