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About 100 million tonnes of waste a year is landfilled
in the past it was an easy route for waste disposal
because it was cheap and space was often available in
old quarries. Space approved for landfill is set to
run out in the next five to ten years.
EU and the UK government have introduced specific legislation
in an attempt to reduce the reliance on landfill and
encourage movement up the waste management hierarchy.
Landfill Tax
The landfill tax applies to all waste (except exempt
waste) disposed of at licensed landfill sites on or
after the 1st of October 1996.
The tax is collected by Customs and Excise from Landfill
operators, who pass on the charges to waste contractors
and eventually to waste producers.
The tax is chargeable by weight and there are two rates:
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A lower rate of £2 per tonne for inactive
wastes including concrete, naturally occurring rocks
and soil, ceramics etc.
-
A standard rate for active wastes of £18
per tonne (from April 2005), set to rise by £3
a tonne every year until it reaches a ceiling of
£35.
Examples of Exempt Waste
-
Dredgings: waste removed form inland waterways
and harbours
-
Waste arising from mining and quarrying operations
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Waste arising form the clearance of contaminated
land
To offset the cost to business, a reduction in the
level of employers' National Insurance Contributions
has been introduced, funded by revenues from the landfill
tax.
The Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC)
The EC Landfill Directive was agreed in Europe on the
26th of April 1999 and must become part of national
legislation by 16th July 2001. The main aim of the directive
is to prevent or minimise the negative effects of landfilling
waste on the environment and human health. This Directive
affects not only the waste management industry but also
the waste producer.
The requirements of the Landfill Directive are implemented
in England and Wales through the Landfill (England and
Wales) Regulations 2002.
Directive Timetable
There are several different elements to the Landfill
directive and these are being phased in over a number
of years
-
From July 2002 hazardous liquid waste and corrosive,
flammable and infectious waste was banned from landfill
-
From September 2002 businesses were required to
identify their waste on Duty of care transfer notes
using new categories and codes listed in the European
Waste Catalogue (EWC).
-
From July 2003 whole tyres were
banned from landfill sites
-
From July 2004 the co-disposal
of hazardous and non-hazardous waste in the same
landfill was banned. Landfills are now separated
into three types based on the waste accepted: i)
Hazardous waste only accepting
any waste which is on the hazardous waste list (any
item marked with an asterisk in the EWC) , ii) Non-Hazardous
waste accepting waste which is not on the
hazardous waste list, and includes municipal and
inert waste and iii) Inert Waste accepting
waste that does not undergo any significant physical,
chemical or biological change. Only a limited range
of wastes will be deposited at such sites, for example
bricks and ceramics. In addition most wastes will
require treatment before disposal to landfill, to
reduce the hazardousness or volume of waste being
disposed of. In Cumbria the only landfill site currently
accepting Hazardous waste is LillyHall in Workington
operated by Alco Waste Management. For further information
about this site contact Alco on 01900 608723
-
From July 2006 Shredded tyres
will be banned from landfill sites
-
From July 2007 non-hazardous liquid
waste will be banned from non-hazardous landfill
sites and non-hazardous waste will require pre-treatment
before going to landfill
The Landfill Directive also sets targets for reducing
the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) sent
to landfill. For the UK, the Directive requires BMW
reductions of 25% by 2010, to 50% by 2013 and to 65%
by 2020 based on 1995 figures
Links to more information
CIWM
Interactive map: Find your nearest hazardous waste landfill
site
Netregs:
Landfill Legislation
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