Consultation on proposals to update guidance on when a used vehicle becomes waste

Overview

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is Scotland’s principal environmental regulator. Our statutory purpose is to protect and improve the environment in ways that, as far as possible, also contribute to improving health and well-being benefits and sustainable economic growth.

Our Corporate Plan sets our strategic direction, and our Annual Operating Plan implements our priorities. In delivering these priorities we engage with those who have an interest in and are impacted by our regulations and duties. One way we engage is through consultations.

This consultation sets out proposed changes to our approach to determining when a used vehicle is waste. The management of waste vehicles is regulated by SEPA under the Environmental Authorisation Scotland Regulations 2025, so determining when used vehicles become waste is important. The draft guidance on Distinguishing between used and waste motor vehicles is available to read in conjunction with this consultation.

Why are we consulting

We must ensure that environmental protection measures are proportionately applied. We also understand that updates to guidance on when a used vehicle becomes waste may have adverse impacts on operators who handle used vehicles.

We want to understand the scale of that impact and whether the proposed updates are feasible. We also want to understand what timescales are achievable, for operators who may need to update business practices to be ready for these changes.

Why your views matter

The feedback we receive through our consultations helps us understand what matters most to our communities and businesses, and shapes how we fulfil our duties. After the consultation closes, we’ll take time to consider responses before sharing an update with you through the “we asked, you said, we did” section of our consultation website.

How to respond

The preferred way to respond to this consultation is digitally on our consultation website.

Where it is not possible for you to respond this way, you can send an email to: nationalwaste@sepa.org.uk. If responding by email, please complete and return the Respondent Information Form with your response.

Handling your response

We would like to know if you are happy for your response to be made public. If you ask for your response not to be published, it will be regarded as confidential and treated in accordance with SEPA’s published Privacy Policy.