OpenLegislation

Control of Pollution Act 1974 in England

1974 c. 40 · Enacted 31 July 1974 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 3 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 31 October 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 105(3)words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 109
s. 24(1)-(3)repealedLitter Act 1983 Sch. 2
Sch. 2 para. 15repealedWater Act 1989 Sch. 27 Pt. 2

An Act to make further provision with respect to waste disposal, water pollution, noise, atmospheric pollution and public health; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.

[31st July 1974]C1E1C2C3C4

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Power to transfer certain functions conferred (E.W.) by Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 (c. 22, SIF 100:1), s. 7(3)(a)(4)(g)

Transfer of certain functions (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 2(1)(c) (with ss. 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

C2

Act: Transfer of functions (except s. 102(2)) (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 1

C3

Act modified (E.W.S.) (31.5.2007) by The St Marys (Isles of Scilly) Harbour Revision Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1554), art. 17 (with arts. 19, 20)

C4

Act modified (17.3.2010) by The Harwich Parkeston Quay Harbour Revision Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/626), art. 10 (with art. 20)

Extent

E1

Act applies to Great Britain with exceptions, see s. 109.

Contents

  1. Part I: Waste on land
  2. Waste disposal arrangements
  3. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  4. Waste disposal plans
  5. 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  6. Licensing of disposal of controlled waste.
  7. 3Prohibition of unlicensed disposal of waste.
  8. 4Provisions supplementary to s. 3.
  9. 5Licences to dispose of waste.
  10. 6Provisions supplementary to s. 5.
  11. 7Variation of conditions and revocation of licences.
  12. 8Transfer and relinquishment of licences.
  13. 9Supervision of licensed activities.
  14. 10Appeals to Secretary of State from decisions with respect to licences.
  15. 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  16. Collection and disposal of controlled waste
  17. 12Collection of waste.
  18. 13Dustbins etc.
  19. 14Disposal of waste in England and Wales.
  20. 15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  21. 16Removal of waste deposited in breach of licensing provisions.
  22. 17Special provisions with respect to certain dangerous or intractable waste.
  23. Waste other than controlled waste
  24. 18Application of preceding provisions to other waste.
  25. 19Powers of disposal authorities as respects other waste.
  26. Reclamation etc. of waste
  27. 20Reclamation of waste.
  28. 21Production of heat and electricity from waste etc.
  29. Street cleaning and litter
  30. 22Street cleaning etc.
  31. 23Prohibition of parking to facilitate street cleaning.
  32. 24Litter.
  33. Supplemental
  34. 25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  35. 26Outfall pipes for sewage disposal works. Repealed
  36. 27Interference with refuse tips and dustbins etc.
  37. 28Supplementary provisions relating to pipes.
  38. 29Modification of Parts I and II to avoid duplication of control.
  39. 30Interpretation etc. of Part I.
  40. Part II: Pollution of water
  41. General provisions
  42. 30GProhibition of certain discharges by notice or regulations. Repealed
  43. 30JOther defences to principal offences. Repealed
  44. Control of entry of polluting matter and effluents into water
  45. 38AGeneral review of consents. Repealed
  46. Control of discharges of trade effluent into public sewers
  47. 43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  48. 44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  49. 45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  50. 46BGrant of, and compensation for, rights of entry etc. Repealed
  51. 46CAppeals against works notices. Repealed
  52. 49BAppeals against enforcement notices. Repealed
  53. Supplemental
  54. Part III: Noise
  55. Periodical inspections by local authorities
  56. 57Periodical inspections by local authorities. Repealed
  57. Summary proceedings to deal with noise
  58. 58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  59. 58A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  60. 58B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  61. 59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  62. 59A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  63. Construction sites
  64. 60Control of noise on construction sites.
  65. 61Prior consent for work on construction sites.
  66. Noise in streets
  67. 62Noise in streets.
  68. Noise abatement zones
  69. 63Designation of zones. Repealed
  70. 64Register of noise levels. Repealed
  71. 65Noise exceeding registered level. Repealed
  72. 66Reduction of noise levels. Repealed
  73. 67New buildings etc. Repealed
  74. Noise from plant or machinery
  75. 68Noise from plant or machinery.
  76. Supplemental
  77. 69Execution of works by local authority. Repealed
  78. 70Appeals to Secretary of State and magistrates’ court.
  79. 71Codes of practice for minimising noise.
  80. 72“Best practicable means”.
  81. 73Interpretation and other supplementary provisions.
  82. 74Penalties.
  83. Part IV
  84. Prevention of atmospheric pollution
  85. 75Regulations about motor fuel.
  86. 76Regulations about sulphur content of oil fuel for furnaces or engines.
  87. 77Provisions supplementary to ss. 75 and 76.
  88. 78Cable burning.
  89. Information about atmospheric pollution
  90. 79Research and publicity.
  91. 80Notices requiring information about air pollution.
  92. 81Appeals against notices.
  93. 82Regulations about research and publicity.
  94. 83Provision by local authorities of information for Secretary of State.
  95. Interpretation
  96. 84Interpretation of Part IV.
  97. Part V: Supplementary provisions
  98. Legal proceedings
  99. 85Appeals to Crown Court or Court of Session against decisions of magistrates’ court or sheriff.
  100. 86. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  101. 87Miscellaneous provisions relating to legal proceedings.
  102. 88Civil liability for contravention of s. 3(3).
  103. Financial provisions
  104. 89Expenses and receipts of Secretary of State etc.
  105. 90Establishment charges and interest in respect of certain expenses of authorities.
  106. Miscellaneous
  107. 91Rights of entry and inspection etc.
  108. 92Provisions supplementary to s. 91.
  109. 93Power of authorities to obtain information.
  110. 94Prohibition of disclosure of information.
  111. 95Service of documents on and by certain undertakers.
  112. 96Local inquiries.
  113. 97Default powers.
  114. 98Interpretation of Part V.
  115. Part VI: Miscellaneous and general
  116. Miscellaneous
  117. 99Alteration of penalties.
  118. 100. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  119. 101Disposal of waste etc by Atomic Energy Authority.
  120. 102Power to give effect to international agreements.
  121. 103. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  122. General
  123. 104Orders and regulations.
  124. 105Interpretation etc—general.
  125. 106General application to Scotland.
  126. 107Application to Isles of Scilly.
  127. 108Minor and consequential amendments of enactments, and repeals.
  128. 109Short title, commencement and extent.
  129. Schedule 1: Noise Abatement Zones Repealed
  130. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  131. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  132. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  133. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  134. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  135. Schedule 1A: Orders Designating Nitrate Sensitive Areas: Scotland Repealed
  136. Part I: Applications by SEPA for Designation Orders Repealed
  137. Orders made only on application Repealed
  138. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  139. Procedure for applications Repealed
  140. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  141. Part II: Orders Containing Mandatory Provisions Etc. Repealed
  142. Publication of proposal for order containing mandatory provisions Repealed
  143. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  144. Supply of copies of proposed orders Repealed
  145. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  146. Modifications of proposals Repealed
  147. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  148. Consideration of objections et ceteralaetc. Repealed
  149. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  150. Consent of Treasury for payment provisions Repealed
  151. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  152. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  153. Schedule 2: Alteration of penalties
  154. The Public Health (Scotland) Act 1897
  155. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  156. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  157. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  158. The Alkali, &c. Works Regulation Act 1906
  159. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  160. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  161. The Public Health Act 1936
  162. 6Paragraph 6
  163. 7Paragraph 7
  164. 8Paragraph 8
  165. 9Paragraph 9
  166. 10Paragraph 10
  167. 11Paragraph 11
  168. 12Paragraph 12
  169. The Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises Act 1937
  170. 13Paragraph 13
  171. 14Paragraph 14
  172. The Water Act 1945
  173. 15Paragraph 15
  174. 16Paragraph 16
  175. 17, 18Paragraph 17, 18 Repealed
  176. The Clean Air Act 1956
  177. 19Paragraph 19 Repealed
  178. The Radioactive Substances Act 1960
  179. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  180. The Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968
  181. 21Paragraph 21
  182. 22Paragraph 22
  183. 23Paragraph 23
  184. 24Paragraph 24
  185. 25Paragraph 25
  186. The Clean Air Act 1968
  187. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  188. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  189. Schedule 3: Minor and consequential amendments of enactments
  190. The Alkali, &c. Works Regulation Act 1906
  191. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  192. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  193. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  194. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  195. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  196. The Public Health Act 1936
  197. 6Paragraph 6
  198. 7Paragraph 7 Not yet in force
  199. The Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises) Act 1937
  200. 8Paragraph 8
  201. 9Paragraph 9
  202. 10Paragraph 10
  203. The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Protection) (Scotland) Act 1951
  204. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  205. The Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) (Scotland) Act 1951
  206. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  207. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  208. 14Paragraph 14
  209. 15Paragraph 15
  210. The Clean Air Act 1956
  211. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  212. The Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act 1961
  213. 17Paragraph 17
  214. The Public Health Act 1961
  215. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  216. The London Government Act 1963
  217. 19Paragraph 19
  218. The Water Resources Act 1963
  219. 20Paragraph 20
  220. 21Paragraph 21
  221. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  222. The Spray Irrigation (Scotland) Act 1964
  223. 23Paragraph 23
  224. The Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) (Scotland) Act 1965
  225. 24Paragraph 24
  226. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  227. The Hovercraft Act 1968
  228. 26Paragraph 26
  229. The Water Act 1973
  230. 27Paragraph 27
  231. 28Paragraph 28
  232. 29Paragraph 29
  233. 30Paragraph 30
  234. The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 Not yet in force
  235. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  236. Schedule 4Repeals