The European Landfill Directive
The European Landfill Directive
Transposed into UK Law via the Landfill Regulations 2003.
Summary
The European Landfill Directive is in place to reduce the negative effects of landfilling on the environment and health. It aims to encourage waste minimisation and increased levels of recycling and recovery; the increased costs of landfilling associated with compliance with the Directive will also encourage alternative waste management methods.
The first requirement of the regulations was a ban on the co-disposal of hazardous waste with non-hazardous waste in landfills. The Directive has also imposed a ban on whole tyres going to landfill since 2003, with this ban extending to shredded tyres from July 2006, while liquid wastes will be banned from landfill from October 2007.
The Directive also brings with it tighter site monitoring and engineering standards. This is supplemented by the European Waste Catalogue, which has extended the range of materials classified as 'hazardous', and the Waste Acceptance Criteria, which has introduced stringent pre-treatment requirements.
Implications
If using waste contractors, you must ensure they are disposing of waste in accordance with the Duty of Care, and using authorised landfill sites for disposal options.
The ban on the co-disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste means the industry will have to segregate all wastes. This could mean an increase in staff time, and could lead to multiple skips being hired to allow for the separate storage of waste.
Overlaps
This overlaps with Duty of Care, as it stipulates that only authorised landfill sites can be used for the disposal of waste. The European Waste Catalogue also overlaps with this, as it extends the range of materials which can be hazardous or non-hazardous.
Opportunities
Thinking more about what is being sent to landfill will force the industry to review their purchasing strategies, and could also encourage them to use more recycled products. This will lead to savings for the industry.
Guidance
Full details of the legislation can be accessed at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/landfill_index.htm
Guidance on the document is available from the following organisations: