Collection of controlled waste - EPA 1990 s. 45
EPA 1990 s. 45: duty to collect household waste, commercial waste on request, and privy/cesspool emptying. Charges for non-household waste.
It shall be the duty of each waste collection authority— to arrange for the collection of household waste in its area except waste— which is situated at a place which in the opinion of the authority is so isolated or inaccessible that the cost of collecting it would be unreasonably high, and as to which the authority is satisfied that adequate arrangements for its disposal have been or can reasonably be expected to be made by a person who controls the waste; and if requested by the occupier of premises in its area to collect any commercial waste from the premises, to arrange for the collection of the waste. ; and if requested by the occupier of premises in its area to collect from the premises dry recyclable waste or food waste presented for collection in accordance with section 34(2E) or (2F), to arrange for the collection of the waste. In subsection (1)(c), the reference to “dry recyclable waste or food waste” does not include— household waste; and food waste from premises in a rural area. Each waste collection authority may, if requested by the occupier of premises in its area to collect any industrial waste from the premises, arrange for the collection of the waste; but a collection authority in England and Wales shall not exercise the power except with the consent of the waste disposal authority whose area includes the area of the waste collection authority. No charge shall be made for the collection of household waste except in cases prescribed in regulations made by the Secretary of State; and in any of those cases— the duty to arrange for the collection of the waste shall not arise until a person who controls the waste requests the authority to collect it; and the authority may recover a reasonable charge for the collection of the waste from the person who made the request. A person at whose request waste other than household waste is collected under this section shall be liable to pay a reasonable charge for the collection and disposal of the waste to the authority which arranged for its collection; and it shall be the duty of that authority to recover the charge unless in the case of a charge in respect of commercial waste the authority considers it inappropriate to do so. It shall be the duty of each waste collection authority— to make such arrangements for the emptying, without charge, of privies serving one or more private dwellings in its area as the authority considers appropriate; if requested by the person who controls a cesspool serving only one or more private dwellings in its area to empty the cesspool, to remove such of the contents of the cesspool as the authority considers appropriate on payment, if the authority so requires, of a reasonable charge. A waste collection authority may, if requested by the person who controls any other privy or cesspool in its area to empty the privy or cesspool, empty the privy or, as the case may be, remove from the cesspool such of its contents as the authority consider appropriate on payment, if the authority so requires, of a reasonable charge. A waste collection authority may— construct, lay and maintain, within or outside its area, pipes and associated works for the purpose of collecting waste; contribute towards the cost incurred by another person in providing or maintaining pipes or associated works connecting with pipes provided by the authority under paragraph (a) above. A waste collection authority may contribute towards the cost incurred by another person in providing or maintaining plant or equipment intended to deal with commercial or industrial waste before it is collected under arrangements made by the authority under subsection (1)(b) or (2) above. Subject to section 48(1) below, anything collected under arrangements made by a waste collection authority under this section shall belong to the authority and may be dealt with accordingly. In relation to Scotland, sections 2, 3, 4 and 41 of the Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968 (maintenance of public sewers etc.) shall apply in relation to pipes and associated works provided or to be provided under subsection (7)(a) above as those sections apply in relation to public sewers but as if— the said section 2 conferred a power on a waste collection authority rather than a duty on Scottish Water ; in the said section 3— references to Scottish Water were references to a waste collection authority; and in references to public sewers and public sewage works the word “public” were omitted; in the said section 4, the reference to Scottish Water were a reference to a waste collection authority and the words from “by virtue” to the end were omitted; and in the said section 41, the reference to Scottish Water were a reference to a waste collection authority, and the Pipe-lines Act 1962 shall not apply to pipes and associated works provided or to be provided under the said subsection (7)(a). Where a waste collection authority, in the exercise of its powers under subsection (7)(a) above, proposes to execute works outside its area, it shall, in addition to any notice served under section 3(2) of the Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968 as applied by virtue of subsection (10) above, serve notice of its intention on the waste collection authority within whose area it is proposed to execute the works together with a description of the proposed works and if, within two months after the service of the notice, the waste collection authority on whom it was served objects to the proposed works, and that objection is not withdrawn, the first-mentioned authority shall not proceed to execute the works without consent aftermentioned but may refer the matter for the determination of the Scottish Ministers who may grant consent to the proposed works either unconditionally or subject to such terms and conditions as they think just, or who may withhold their consent, and their decision on the matter shall be final. In the application of this section to Scotland, subsection (5)(b) and the references to a cesspool occurring in subsection (6) shall be omitted. In this section “ privy ” means a latrine which has a moveable receptacle and “ cesspool ” includes a settlement tank or other tank for the reception or disposal of foul matter from buildings. In this section— “privy” means a latrine which has a moveable receptacle; “cesspool” includes a settlement tank or other tank for the reception or disposal of foul matter from buildings; and “rural area” has the same meaning as in section 34(4B).
Text in force at .
Source: legislation.gov.uk — The National Archives (legislation.gov.uk), reproduced under licence Open Government Licence v3.0.
What it actually says
Waste collection authorities (local councils) must collect household waste from your home, unless your property is so isolated that collecting it would be unreasonably expensive and you have made your own arrangements for disposal. They must also collect commercial waste from businesses if you ask, and dry recyclable or food waste if you ask. They may collect industrial waste if asked, but only with the consent of the waste disposal authority.
No charge can be made for collecting household waste except in cases set out in regulations. For other waste, the person who asked must pay a reasonable charge. The authority must empty privies (latrines with a movable receptacle) free of charge, and must empty cesspools (including settlement tanks) on request for a reasonable charge. They may also build and maintain pipes to collect waste, and contribute to the cost of plant or equipment for treating commercial or industrial waste before collection.
When it applies
- A householder whose bin is not collected by the council because the property is in a remote location.
- A shop owner requests the council to collect commercial waste from their premises.
- A resident asks the council to collect dry recyclable or food waste separately.
- A person with a private cesspool asks the council to empty it and is charged a reasonable fee.
- A council constructs pipes to collect waste from a new housing development.
What this section does not say
- What happens to waste after collection (disposal is covered by section 48).
- The types of receptacles that must be used for waste (covered by sections 46 and 47).
- Offences for illegal disposal of waste (covered by other provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990).
Related sections
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This page reproduces the text of EPA 1990 s. 45 in force at the date shown and explains it in general terms. It is not legal advice and takes no account of the circumstances of your case, which can change the answer completely. For a live dispute, for limitation periods, and before taking any step in court, consult a qualified lawyer in England and Wales.