OpenLegislation

Control of Pollution Act 1974

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

Not fully up to date. 4 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 14 September 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
s. 61(9)excludedGreen Hill Solar Farm 2026 art. 7(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 Repealed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 Repealed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 Repealed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 IA: Abandoned Mines
  41. 30YIntroductory.
  42. 30ZMine operators to give SEPA six months’ notice of any proposed abandonment.
  43. Part II: Pollution of water
  44. General provisions
  45. 30AWaters to which Part II applies.
  46. 30BClassification of quality waters. Repealed
  47. 30CWater quality objectives. Repealed
  48. 30DGeneral duties to achieve and maintain objectives etc. Repealed
  49. 30EConsultation and collaboration. Repealed
  50. Control of entry of polluting matter and effluents into water
  51. 30FPollution offences. Repealed
  52. 30GProhibition of certain discharges by notice or regulations. Repealed
  53. 30HDischarges into and from sewers etc. Repealed
  54. 30IDefence to principal offences in respect of authorised discharges. Repealed
  55. 30JOther defences to principal offences. Repealed
  56. Control of entry of polluting matter and effluents into water
  57. 31Control of pollution of rivers and coastal waters etc. Repealed
  58. 31ARequirements to take precautions against pollution. Repealed
  59. 31BNitrate sensitive areas. Repealed
  60. 31CRegistering of agreement. Repealed
  61. 31D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  62. 32. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  63. 33Control of sanitary appliances on vessels. Repealed
  64. Consents for discharges
  65. 34Consents for discharges of trade and sewage effluent etc. Repealed
  66. 35Reference to Secretary of State of certain applications for consent. Repealed
  67. 36Provisions supplementary to ss. 34 and 35. Repealed
  68. 37Revocation of consents and alteration and imposition of conditions. Repealed
  69. 38Restriction on variation and revocation of consent and of previous variation. Repealed
  70. 38AGeneral review of consents. Repealed
  71. 39Appeals to the Secretary of State. Repealed
  72. 40Transitional provisions relating to consent. Repealed
  73. Ancillary provisions relating to control of discharges
  74. 41Registers. Repealed
  75. 42AExclusion from registers of information affecting national security. Repealed
  76. 42BExclusion from registers of certain confidential information. Repealed
  77. Control of discharges of trade effluent into public sewers
  78. 43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  79. 44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  80. 45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  81. Miscellaneous
  82. 46Operations by river purification authorities to remedy or forestall pollution of water. Repealed
  83. 46ANotices requiring persons to carry out anti-pollution operations. Repealed
  84. 46BGrant of, and compensation for, rights of entry etc. Repealed
  85. 46CAppeals against works notices. Repealed
  86. 46DConsequences of not complying with a works notice. Repealed
  87. 47Duty of water authorities to deal with waste from vessels etc. Repealed
  88. 48Power of water authorities to exclude unregistered vessels from rivers etc. Repealed
  89. 49Deposits and vegetation in rivers etc. Repealed
  90. 49AEnforcement notices as respects discharge consents. Repealed
  91. 49BAppeals against enforcement notices. Repealed
  92. 50Investigation of water pollution problems arising from closure of mines. Repealed
  93. 51Codes of good agricultural practice.
  94. 52Charges in respect of certain discharges in England and Wales. Repealed
  95. 53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  96. 54. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  97. Supplemental
  98. 55. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  99. 55ARegulations under this Part.
  100. 56Interpretation etc. of Part II.
  101. Part III: Noise
  102. Periodical inspections by local authorities
  103. 57Periodical inspections by local authorities. Repealed
  104. Summary proceedings to deal with noise
  105. 58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  106. 58A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  107. 58B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  108. 59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  109. 59A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  110. Construction sites
  111. 60Control of noise on construction sites.
  112. 61Prior consent for work on construction sites.
  113. Noise in streets
  114. 62Noise in streets.
  115. Noise abatement zones
  116. 63Designation of zones. Repealed
  117. 64Register of noise levels. Repealed
  118. 65Noise exceeding registered level. Repealed
  119. 66Reduction of noise levels. Repealed
  120. 67New buildings etc. Repealed
  121. Noise from plant or machinery
  122. 68Noise from plant or machinery.
  123. Supplemental
  124. 69Execution of works by local authority. Repealed
  125. 70Appeals to Secretary of State and magistrates’ court.
  126. 71Codes of practice for minimising noise.
  127. 72“Best practicable means”.
  128. 73Interpretation and other supplementary provisions.
  129. 74Penalties.
  130. Part IV
  131. Prevention of atmospheric pollution
  132. 75Regulations about motor fuel.
  133. 76Regulations about sulphur content of oil fuel for furnaces or engines.
  134. 77Provisions supplementary to ss. 75 and 76.
  135. 78Cable burning.
  136. Information about atmospheric pollution
  137. 79Research and publicity.
  138. 80Notices requiring information about air pollution.
  139. 81Appeals against notices.
  140. 82Regulations about research and publicity.
  141. 83Provision by local authorities of information for Secretary of State.
  142. Interpretation
  143. 84Interpretation of Part IV.
  144. Part V: Supplementary provisions
  145. Legal proceedings
  146. 85Appeals to Crown Court or Court of Session against decisions of magistrates’ court or sheriff.
  147. 86. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  148. 87Miscellaneous provisions relating to legal proceedings.
  149. 88Civil liability for contravention of s. 3(3).
  150. Financial provisions
  151. 89Expenses and receipts of Secretary of State etc.
  152. 90Establishment charges and interest in respect of certain expenses of authorities.
  153. Miscellaneous
  154. 91Rights of entry and inspection etc.
  155. 92Provisions supplementary to s. 91.
  156. 93Power of authorities to obtain information.
  157. 94Prohibition of disclosure of information.
  158. 95Service of documents on and by certain undertakers.
  159. 96Local inquiries.
  160. 97Default powers.
  161. 98Interpretation of Part V.
  162. Part VI: Miscellaneous and general
  163. Miscellaneous
  164. 99Alteration of penalties.
  165. 100. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  166. 101Disposal of waste etc by Atomic Energy Authority.
  167. 102Power to give effect to international agreements.
  168. 103. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  169. General
  170. 104Orders and regulations.
  171. 105Interpretation etc—general.
  172. 106General application to Scotland.
  173. 107Application to Isles of Scilly.
  174. 108Minor and consequential amendments of enactments, and repeals.
  175. 109Short title, commencement and extent.
  176. Schedule 1: Noise Abatement Zones Repealed
  177. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  178. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  179. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  180. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  181. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  182. Schedule 1A: Orders Designating Nitrate Sensitive Areas: Scotland Repealed
  183. Part I: Applications by SEPA for Designation Orders Repealed
  184. Orders made only on application Repealed
  185. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  186. Procedure for applications Repealed
  187. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  188. Part II: Orders Containing Mandatory Provisions Etc. Repealed
  189. Publication of proposal for order containing mandatory provisions Repealed
  190. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  191. Supply of copies of proposed orders Repealed
  192. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  193. Modifications of proposals Repealed
  194. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  195. Consideration of objections et ceteralaetc. Repealed
  196. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  197. Consent of Treasury for payment provisions Repealed
  198. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  199. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  200. Schedule 2: Alteration of penalties
  201. The Public Health (Scotland) Act 1897
  202. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  203. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  204. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  205. The Alkali, &c. Works Regulation Act 1906
  206. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  207. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  208. The Public Health Act 1936
  209. 6Paragraph 6
  210. 7Paragraph 7
  211. 8Paragraph 8
  212. 9Paragraph 9
  213. 10Paragraph 10
  214. 11Paragraph 11
  215. 12Paragraph 12
  216. The Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises Act 1937
  217. 13Paragraph 13
  218. 14Paragraph 14
  219. The Water Act 1945
  220. 15Paragraph 15
  221. 16Paragraph 16
  222. 17, 18Paragraph 17, 18 Repealed
  223. The Clean Air Act 1956
  224. 19Paragraph 19 Repealed
  225. The Radioactive Substances Act 1960
  226. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  227. The Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968
  228. 21Paragraph 21
  229. 22Paragraph 22
  230. 23Paragraph 23
  231. 24Paragraph 24
  232. 25Paragraph 25
  233. The Clean Air Act 1968
  234. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  235. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  236. Schedule 3: Minor and consequential amendments of enactments
  237. The Alkali, &c. Works Regulation Act 1906
  238. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  239. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  240. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  241. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  242. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  243. The Public Health Act 1936
  244. 6Paragraph 6
  245. 7Paragraph 7 Not yet in force
  246. The Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises) Act 1937
  247. 8Paragraph 8
  248. 9Paragraph 9
  249. 10Paragraph 10
  250. The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Protection) (Scotland) Act 1951
  251. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  252. The Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) (Scotland) Act 1951
  253. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  254. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  255. 14Paragraph 14
  256. 15Paragraph 15
  257. The Clean Air Act 1956
  258. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  259. The Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act 1961
  260. 17Paragraph 17
  261. The Public Health Act 1961
  262. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  263. The London Government Act 1963
  264. 19Paragraph 19
  265. The Water Resources Act 1963
  266. 20Paragraph 20
  267. 21Paragraph 21
  268. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  269. The Spray Irrigation (Scotland) Act 1964
  270. 23Paragraph 23
  271. The Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) (Scotland) Act 1965
  272. 24Paragraph 24
  273. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  274. The Hovercraft Act 1968
  275. 26Paragraph 26
  276. The Water Act 1973
  277. 27Paragraph 27
  278. 28Paragraph 28
  279. 29Paragraph 29
  280. 30Paragraph 30
  281. The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 Not yet in force
  282. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  283. Schedule 4Repeals