Management and disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): consultation

Proposal

In December 2019 the European Union (EU) updated legislation on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), Regulation (EU) 2019/1021. This created a requirement for all Member States to decontaminate or remove from use equipment containing more than 0.005% by weight of PCBs and volumes greater than 0.05 dm³ by 31 December 2025.

The Scottish Government is therefore proposing to amend the current regulations to ensure that we comply with the new PCB limits set out in the EU legislation.

Amendments will allow transformers or other relevant equipment with PCB levels of less than 0.005% by weight or a volume of less than 0.05dm³ to continue to be held until the end of their useful life. However, transformers with PCB levels of 0.005 to 0.05% by weight and a total volume greater than 0.05dm³ and other relevant equipment with PCB levels of 0.005% and a total volume greater than 0.05dm³ will be able to be held only until 31 December 2025, after which they must be decontaminated or disposed of.