As mandatory technical competence for waste controllers and transporters gets closer CIWM begins work on the assessment route ahead of the 2027 go-live.
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) is developing the individual assessment route of a new Controllers and Transporters (CaT) Competence Scheme, working with the Environment Agency to prepare the industry for technical competence requirements under the reformed waste permitting regime.
The scheme aims to support the shift from the current waste carrier, broker and dealer (CBD) registration system to environmental permits for waste controllers and waste transporters. Subject to legislation, the new permit-based system is expected to come into force in 2027.
Under the current CBD system, operators can register without demonstrating any technical knowledge of waste management. The reformed regime will require permit holders to prove they are competent to transport waste or make decisions about its management and movement - a requirement that CIWM says marks a significant change for the sector.
CIWM's work on the scheme includes the development of learning materials, assessments and certification processes. Operators following the individual route would take a remote e-learning course before sitting an in-person test at a test centre, according to Defra's policy paper on the reforms. A separate workplace-based qualification route will be available for larger businesses with organisation-wide training systems.
Dan Cooke, Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs at CIWM, commented: "Introducing mandatory technical competence for waste controllers and transporters marks a significant step forward for the sector and reflects the growing importance of professional standards, accountability and environmental responsibility across waste management and resource operations."
CIWM already runs an operator competence scheme for permitted waste sites under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. That scheme replaced the previous Certificate of Technical Competence (CoTC) and requires competent persons to pass a continuing competence test every two years. The CaT scheme extends a similar principle to waste transport and brokerage, areas that have operated under lighter-touch registration until now.
Waste crime context
The reforms are part of Defra's Waste Crime Action Plan, published in March, which identified the CBD registration system as one of several regulatory gaps exploited by waste criminals. An estimated 20 per cent of all waste in England is illegally managed, costing the economy an estimated £1 billion a year.
By moving waste controllers and transporters into the Environmental Permitting Regulations, the Environment Agency gains enforcement powers it currently lacks over this part of the sector, including the ability to suspend or revoke permits. Maximum penalties for non-compliance rise to up to five years' imprisonment. Permits will last three years and require active renewal, replacing lifetime lower-tier registrations that provided no regular compliance checkpoints.
The new regime introduces three permit types - waste controller, waste transporter and combined waste controller-transporter - with a system of four risk-based tiers and proportionate charging. Operators carrying lower volumes of construction or demolition waste produced in the course of their own business will be subject to a lower level of permit and will not need to undertake mandatory competence assessments.
Cooke added: "Effective regulation depends not only on stronger powers, but also on ensuring operators have clear, credible and proportionate routes to demonstrating competence. CIWM's role is to help ensure the new system supports both regulatory objectives and legitimate operators working hard to deliver compliant, professional services."
Anyone applying for a permit in the first year after the system goes live will have 12 months from the go-live date to enter proof of their technical competence, according to Defra's policy paper. Existing operators on three-year registrations will transition when their current permits expire, while those holding lifetime registrations have 12 months to apply for permits or register exemptions.
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.