THE process of introducing Wales’ second-ever tax has been put in motion today, Monday.

Landfill Disposal Tax will be devolved to Wales from April 2018 and today the Welsh Government has published its bill introducing the rate.

The tax is paid by operators of landfill sites and is expected to generate £27 million in the 2018-2019 financial year.

The bill contains three rates, for less environmentally-damaging material, standard waste and unauthorised disposals. Some of the cash raised by the tax will be handed over to community projects focusing on biodiversity and other environmental work.

Finance secretary Mark Drakeford said the bill was “an important step towards the devolution of tax to Wales”.

“For the first time in 800 years we are developing and implementing a tax regime that is more directly suited to the needs of our country and our people,” he said.

“By replacing landfill tax with landfill disposals tax from April 2018 public services in Wales will continue to benefit from the revenues raised by this tax.

“Wales is at the forefront of waste policy and landfill tax is an important element of achieving our goal of a zero waste Wales.”

Rates will be set at a date to be confirmed.

This is the second tax bill to be introduced by the Welsh Government this year after Land Transaction Tax, which will replace Stamp Duty from April 2018.