Draft legislation implementing the revised EU Waste Framework Directive was laid before parliament and the National Assembly for Wales in February. The legislation is subject to "affirmative resolution procedure" & needs to be debated & approved before it can pass into law. However, even if that process proves simple, it could be subject to judicial review by industry bodies. The revised Directive introduces several new policies including Europe's first general recycling target: for 50% of waste from households by 2020. DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly Government consulted on proposals to implement it in 2010 while Scotland included measures in its Zero Waste Plan. Issues raised included how provisions requiring waste producers to abide by the waste hierarchy would be incorporated & the need for separate collections of recyclable materials. The waste hierarchy requirements will be included as proposed by DEFRA in its latest consultation. Waste holders will have to treat waste in accordance with the hierarchy. On separate collections, DEFRA has maintained that the Directive does not preclude commingling as a means of meeting general recycling targets, but the move has proved controversial with reprocessors who say that kerbside sorting provides better quality materials. They say the Directive's wording implies separate collection is required.
