Uk meets 2010 landfill
directive target and responds to landfill consultations
News Release issued by
the COI News Distribution Service on 08 September 2010
160/10 The
Government announced today that they will meet the 2010 Landfill
Directive target and also published responses to two separate
consultations on meeting EU Landfill Diversion Targets and on
restrictions on the landfilling of certain wastes.
The latest data for England from the Environment Agency shows
that combined with similar data from the devolved administrations,
the UK will meet the 2010 Landfill Diversion Target to reduce
biodegradable municipal waste to landfill. This is a key EU waste
target with further targets to be met in 2013 and 2020.
Speaking while touring Green-Works’ warehouse in Wembley, a
social enterprise dedicated to helping the environment by
diverting redundant office furniture from landfill to be reused
and recycled, Environment Minister Lord Henley said;
“It is pleasing to see that from the latest data the UK will meet
the 2010 Landfill Directive target as it shows that people are
beginning to realise that we can’t continue sending huge amounts
of waste to landfill. As this Government strives to be the
greenest government ever it will be important that this trend
continues as we look to meet future targets.”
The Government has also today published responses on two landfill
consultations that began under the previous Government last March
and closed in June. The consultations were on meeting EU landfill
diversion targets and on the introduction of restrictions on the
landfilling of certain wastes.
The consultation on meeting EU landfill diversion targets was
aimed at local authorities and the waste management industry and
addresses the changes necessary to enable the UK to report to the
European Commission on a revised approach to the landfill
diversion targets.
For England only this consultation asked for views on the most
effective combination of policies Defra should pursue, that
address both the local authority and private sector elements of
municipal waste, to provide the necessary confidence that England
meets its targets. The responses gathered from this consultation
will inform further work, including consideration of the future of
Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme beyond 2013. Given this, local
authorities may need to carefully consider whether they wish to
enter into trading of Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS)
allowances after this time.
The Introduction of Restrictions on the Landfilling of Certain
wastes, was a joint consultation with the Welsh Assembly
Government, and was in response to the commitment of the previous
Government to consult on whether further restrictions on the
landfilling of biodegradable and recyclable wastes would make an
effective contribution to meeting the twin objectives of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions and increasing resource efficiency.
The restrictions consultation sought comments on the case for
introducing bans or restrictions on the landfilling of ;
paper/card, food, textiles, metals, wood, green (garden) waste,
glass, plastics, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE),
biodegradable wastes and non-segregated wastes. The consultation
asked for views on the policy options of doing nothing,
introducing landfill bans with or without a separate requirement
to sort waste, introducing a sorting or tougher pre-treatment
requirement but without a ban and further producer responsibility systems.
Responding to the previous Government’s consultation on landfill
restrictions, Environment Minister Lord Henley said:
“This government is not minded to introduce further landfill
restrictions in England at this stage, but will consider how best
to make progress towards the objective of zero waste to landfill
as part of the Review of Waste Policies, due to conclude in Spring 2011.”
Notes to Editors
The Governments response to the consultation on “Meeting EU
Landfill Diversion Targets” can be viewed on the following link:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/landfill-diversion/index.htmData
for 2009 (calendar year) shows that England is landfilling
considerably less waste than its 2010 target (approximately 14.6
million tonnes compared to the 2010 target of about 21.7 million
tonnes). These figures are based on the revised interpretation of
municipal waste, and resulting changes to the landfill diversion
targets. This information is currently near final and thus subject
to change. It should be considered provisional, but any change is
not expected to materially affect the conclusions in regard to the
Landfill Directive target. Data covering other parts of the UK is
currently in production.UK will report data for 2007 – 2009 to the
European Commission shortly. This is based on the revised
interpretation of municipal waste, incorporating elements of
private sector commercial and industrial waste. Details of the
revised interpretation and targets are included in the original
consultation.The Governments response to the consultation on
“Introduction of Restrictions on the Landfilling of Certain
Wastes” can be viewed on the following link:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/landfill-restrictions/index.htmTo
view the Welsh Assembly Government web page on the Introduction of
Restrictions on the Landfilling of Certain Wastes please see
following link;
http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/environmentandcountryside/landfillrestrictions/;jsessionid=G0NWMB2QTvxVNGGVzhpLK6DVSVyh4VFL5dvNypkyZry2vQwNkxz0!235090802?lang=en&ts=3For
more information on Green-Works, please contact Blue Rocket PR:
Jasmin Robertson / Jane Woodley, 01273 779 196 / 07835 878928,
jasmin@bluerocketgroup.com
Contacts:
Defra Press Office
Phone: 020 7238 6600
NDS.DEFRA@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Oliver Jackson
Phone: 0207 238 1822
oliver.jackson@defra.gsi.gov.uk