Deregulation Backgrounder - Waste Management Act Review

On September 21, 2002, the BC government announced a sweeping review of the Waste Management Act, the law that regulates polluters in BC.

Changes discussed in the first of three discussion papers could mean that:

• Government regulation of small and medium sized polluters is less effective at preventing regulation.
• Enforcement of environmental standards will become more difficult or practically impossible for small and medium sized polluters.
• Government will have less ability to deal with local concerns such as pollution near residential areas or into sensitive environments.
• Citizens concerned about local air and water impacts may not be able to appeal pollution authorizations given to polluters that are deemed to be low or medium risk.
• Local residents and citizens may no longer receive notice when industry applies for a pollution permit.
• Openness and public accountability could be bypassed through use of private contracts between government and industry that exempt industry from regulation.
• Legally binding standards could be waived through backroom deals with industry.