Product category:
Waste Services and Water Storage
News Release from: Acumen Waste Services | Subject: European Waste Directive
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 15 December 2005
UK a nation of serial landfillers warns
Acumen
UK is 'a nation of serial landfillers' warns Acumen Waste Services who have produced a guide to companies wanting to understand more about the European Waste Directive.
Yorkshire-based Acumen Waste Services Limited says that the latest phase of implementation of the EU Landfill Directive in England, which came into force in July 2005, is poorly understood, and most businesses are simply failing to recognise the onerous financial and administrative burdens that will be forced on them Iain Johnson, MD of Acumen Waste Services warns that the new legislation requires companies to manage their waste more effectively, including recycling more material, or face significantly higher prices to send their waste to licensed landfill sites
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 15 Dec 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Under the new EU law, the UK is legally committed to making sure that less than 35% of its biodegradable waste is sent for burial in landfill sites by 2020; currently we send about 80%.
Iain Johnson says: "The latest phase of implementing the EU Landfill Directive is part of a rolling programme of legislation aimed at reducing the volume of waste sent to landfill".
"In 2002 it became illegal to scrap refrigerators without first de-gassing both the refrigerant circuit and the insulating foam, this year's legislation reclassifies as "hazardous" waste such things as: fluorescent tubes, lamps, IT equipment and many electrical goods making them more difficult and costly to get rid of at landfill sites".
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"Whole tyres are already banned form landfill and shredded tyres will be by July 2006".
"The regulations force businesses and local authorities to address fundamentally the way in which they manage waste and encourage where possible the recovery of recyclable materials." He adds: "From our assessment of the market, many organisations are simply unaware of the legislation, and for those who are, a significant proportion are failing to plan for its impact.
These companies do not appear to understand the massive impact in administrative burden and financial cost this legislation will have on the way they manage their waste.
Nor do they realise that much of what they throw away can be economically recovered".
According to figures from the Environment Agency, 165 million tonnes of controlled waste was produced in England and Wales in 2003 most of which found its way into landfill sites".
"Municipal solid waste accounts for 27 million tonnes per year - just over one tonne for each of the 23 million households in England and Wales, even though about 80% of this material is suitable for recycling or composting".
"Industry and commerce produce up to 70 million tonnes, with construction and demolition accounting for a further 65 million tonnes".
"As the environmental pressure on landfill increases so too will taxation".
"Landfill tax, which stands at GBP15 per tonne and currently raises about GBP520 million for the government each year, is set to increase by a further GBP3 per tonne by April 2005".
"Furthermore, the government is committed to increasing Landfill Tax to GBP35 per tonne over the next 3 to 4 years - a rise of 250%, producing an annual landfill tax bill of GBP1.3 billion".
"Iain Johnson says: "This tax burden will be paid initially by manufacturers and local authorities but of course it will find its way back to the consumer and amounts to an estimated GBP65 per household per year".
"He adds: "The new law will affect the UK more than many countries in Europe".
"For too long the UK has been a nation of serial landfillers and has failed to explore other options".
"We have to take advantage of sustainable alternatives to burying the nation's rubbish in holes in the ground." "This new legislation will make it much more expensive to continue as we have done and will encourage companies and individuals to take a more responsible approach to recycling".
The UK is way behind many other European countries when it comes to recycling and composting.
In Austria 64% of waste is recycled, Belgium re-uses 52% and Germany manages slightly less at 48%.
France has a score of only 14% but still manages to beat the UK at just 11%.
Acumen Waste Management have produced a guide to companies wanting to understand more about the European Waste Directive.
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