The EU Landfill Directive
While most of us have heard of the Kyoto Protocol and its efforts to reduce the effects of global warming, the European Union Landfill Directive isn't as widely known but its effect will have a big impact on all our lives — and the environment.
What is the EU Landfill Directive?
The EU Landfill Directive is aimed at reducing the waste ending up in landfill sites over the next 20 years. By 2020, we must reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (including household rubbish) in landfill by 35% of that in 1995.
Who has to comply with the directive?
Every nation in the EU has to comply with the Landfill Directive, but all members are implementing the changes in different ways. In UK, targets are being delivered through Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS). Each waste disposal authority (usually county councils) will be able to determine how to use its allocation of allowances in the most effective way for its own area.
Waste disposal authorities will be charged £150 for every tonne they are over their landfill allowance, so it could prove costly for them if alternative strategies aren't put in place.
Why do we have to reduce landfill waste?
Waste dumped on tips produces methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times more climate-changing than the emission of carbon dioxide from the use of fossil fuels. For this reason, reducing the amount of waste we put in landfill sites is vital.
How can landfill waste be reduced?
In order for the directive to be effective, alternative strategies for waste need to be put into place. Waste management researcher and consultant Maggie Thurgood said: 'To reduce landfill waste, disposal authorities will need to make sure a lot more is recycled — paper, plastic, metal and glass. It's likely that in the future we will all be required to sort more of our household waste — we could even have six to nine different types of waste to sort, ranging from glass to paper, plastic and organic waste. I would predict people who recycle properly will pay less money in tax than those who don't.'
Can we cope with the extra waste?
The act of reducing the waste in the UK's landfill sites means there will be significant amounts of waste to be disposed of in other ways. 'It's a serious problems and I'm very concerned,' Thurgood said, warning that recycling manufacturers may not be able to cope with the amount of extra waste coming their way.
Thurgood said: 'Metals are less of a problem to recycle but plastic is already problematic and will only become more so. At present, manufacturers who recycle can probably cope with up to 30% of waste. Until this figure increases, the remainder of the waste not going to landfill sites will need to be disposed of in other ways.'
How should the excess waste be disposed of?
Arguments rage between environmental groups and the government with regard to how we should deal with this excess waste that can no longer go into landfills. One side is arguing for more recycling plants and the other more incinerators. Either way, more provision needs to be made.
Claire Wilton, Friends of the Earth's senior waste campaigner, said: 'Recycling is much better for the environment than either burying or burning waste.' While this may be the case, Thurgood points out that not everything can be recycled: 'In reality, incinerators and recycle plants aren't mutually exclusive. More of both are needed. Even if everything that can be recycled is recycled, there will still be a lot of excess waste. It has to go somewhere.'
What does the EU Landfill Regulation mean for you?
Apart from potentially higher council tax bills in the future, it means we are going to have to start reducing the amount of waste we produce by sorting our rubbish and recycling more.
Find out how you can help reduce waste and conserve energy in the home.
What is the EU Landfill Directive?
The EU Landfill Directive is aimed at reducing the waste ending up in landfill sites over the next 20 years. By 2020, we must reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (including household rubbish) in landfill by 35% of that in 1995.
Who has to comply with the directive?
Every nation in the EU has to comply with the Landfill Directive, but all members are implementing the changes in different ways. In UK, targets are being delivered through Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS). Each waste disposal authority (usually county councils) will be able to determine how to use its allocation of allowances in the most effective way for its own area.
Waste disposal authorities will be charged £150 for every tonne they are over their landfill allowance, so it could prove costly for them if alternative strategies aren't put in place.
Why do we have to reduce landfill waste?
Waste dumped on tips produces methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times more climate-changing than the emission of carbon dioxide from the use of fossil fuels. For this reason, reducing the amount of waste we put in landfill sites is vital.
How can landfill waste be reduced?
In order for the directive to be effective, alternative strategies for waste need to be put into place. Waste management researcher and consultant Maggie Thurgood said: 'To reduce landfill waste, disposal authorities will need to make sure a lot more is recycled — paper, plastic, metal and glass. It's likely that in the future we will all be required to sort more of our household waste — we could even have six to nine different types of waste to sort, ranging from glass to paper, plastic and organic waste. I would predict people who recycle properly will pay less money in tax than those who don't.'
Can we cope with the extra waste?
The act of reducing the waste in the UK's landfill sites means there will be significant amounts of waste to be disposed of in other ways. 'It's a serious problems and I'm very concerned,' Thurgood said, warning that recycling manufacturers may not be able to cope with the amount of extra waste coming their way.
Thurgood said: 'Metals are less of a problem to recycle but plastic is already problematic and will only become more so. At present, manufacturers who recycle can probably cope with up to 30% of waste. Until this figure increases, the remainder of the waste not going to landfill sites will need to be disposed of in other ways.'
How should the excess waste be disposed of?
Arguments rage between environmental groups and the government with regard to how we should deal with this excess waste that can no longer go into landfills. One side is arguing for more recycling plants and the other more incinerators. Either way, more provision needs to be made.
Claire Wilton, Friends of the Earth's senior waste campaigner, said: 'Recycling is much better for the environment than either burying or burning waste.' While this may be the case, Thurgood points out that not everything can be recycled: 'In reality, incinerators and recycle plants aren't mutually exclusive. More of both are needed. Even if everything that can be recycled is recycled, there will still be a lot of excess waste. It has to go somewhere.'
What does the EU Landfill Regulation mean for you?
Apart from potentially higher council tax bills in the future, it means we are going to have to start reducing the amount of waste we produce by sorting our rubbish and recycling more.
Find out how you can help reduce waste and conserve energy in the home.