The horticulture industry produces a wide range of waste, including packaging, polythene tunnel covers and green waste. Until recently, growers were allowed to dispose of waste in several ways and without formal controls. These included the use of nursery "dumps", drum incinerators, burning in the open air, deep burial, composting and collection by waste contractors. However, the Waste Management (England and Wales) Regulations 2006 have brought growers and farmers under the same controls as other industries, with a one-year transitional period that ends on 15 May. The most significant reason for this was EU pressure to implement the Waste Framework Directive in all industries. The rules were also deemed necessary by the Environment Agency due to the high risk of environmental pollution and harm to health of uncontrolled waste disposal, in particular unregulated open burning and burial of hazardous waste. The good news for growers is that the new rules have been written in consultation with the industry, including a stakeholder group, the Agricultural Waste Stakeholders' Forum. The new controls should, therefore, be implemented with due regard to the complexities of nursery situations.
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