DEFRA are seeking views on a proposal by the European Commission to revise the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) (2006/12/EC) and related EU legislation.

2. In December 2005 the European Commission published (a) A Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste (the Waste Thematic Strategy); (b) proposals for associated legislation comprising (i) a revision of the WFD, (ii) the repeal of the Waste Oils Directive and (iii) the repeal and integration of the Hazardous Waste Directive into the revised WFD; and (c) An Impact Assessment. These documents are available on the Commission’s website at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/strategy.htm.

3. Under the Austrian Presidency, the Council of the European Union held a policy debate on the Waste Thematic Strategy and the associated legislation when EU Environment Ministers met on 9 March 2006; and the Council adopted Conclusions on the Strategy at its meeting on 27 June 2006. Following adoption of those Conclusions, negotiations on the associated legislation – referred to as the revised WFD - are now taking place under the Finnish Presidency.

4. The Government, in association with the Devolved Administrations, is therefore publishing a consultation paper inviting views on the revised WFD. The purpose of doing so is to ensure that the UK’s involvement in the negotiations on the legislation is well informed and has an evidence base which is as sound as possible.

5. Views are invited from anyone who has an interest in waste prevention, is a producer of waste, has an interest in the collection, transport, recovery or disposal of waste, or has an interest in waste as a dealer or broker. The consultation paper includes a Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment on which views are also invited. You are invited to comment on each of the proposals in the revised WFD and, to assist you in doing so, a range of questions is set out in Chapter 4 of the consultation paper.