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The Mining Waste Directive
The Mining Waste Directive (MWD) came into force on 1 May 2006. The MWD is implemented in England and Wales by The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 (the EP regulations).
The MWD applies to ‘extractive waste’. Extractive waste is defined as wastes which are "generated from the prospecting, extraction, treatment and storage of mineral resources and the working of quarries." Extractive industries are defined as ‘all establishments and undertakings engaged in surface or underground extraction of mineral resources for commercial purposes including extraction by drilling boreholes or treatment of the extracted material’.
The regulations classify operations into two types;
Mining Waste Operations - management of mining waste whether or not a facility is present
Mining Waste Facilities - areas used for the deposition of mining waste e.g. spoil heaps, lagoons, tailing dams
(A Mining Waste Facility can be further catagorised as Category A and extensive requirements concening the management of emergency scenarios then have to be met.)
A Waste Management Plan is required to be produced for both types of operation and may need to accompany an application for an Environmental Permit from the regulatory body, the Environment Agency (EA).
An Extractive Materials Management Statement is first produced to demonstrate what is and is not classified as extractive waste on any given site. Once the types and quantities of extractive waste have been identified the appropriate application can be prepared and submitted to the EA.
Vicki Beatty Associates has experience in the preparation and submission of the documents and permits associated with the Mining Waste Directive including Extractive Materials Management Statements, Waste Management Plans and relevant permit applications.
For further information please contact Vicki Beatty Associates using the form on the Contact Us page. | 
