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4 March 2005 - EU Directive Sets New Limits
for England's Landfill Sites
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As a result of the EU Landfill Directive, new limits have been
set for England's 121 landfill sites on the amount of biodegradable municipal
waste local authorities can dispose of.
The Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS), confirmed by
Environment Minister, Mr. Elliott Morley, will be launched on 1 April 2005.
Mr. Morley said:
"Government will be introducing the scheme to help local
authorities meet the tough new targets under the EU Landfill Directive, to
reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill sites, in
the most cost effective way.
"While the targets are challenging, this is an innovative approach which gives
authorities the flexibility to decide how and when to make the necessary changes
in the way they handle their waste, while ensuring that England meets national
and international obligations in the most cost effective way.
"As such, waste disposal authorities will be able to trade their allowances with
other disposal authorities; selling allowances if their waste has already been
diverted to other disposal routes - for example recycling - or buying allowances
if they have no alternative but to landfill more waste than their allocation of
allowances enables them to.
"There will also be the chance to 'bank' for those who want to save unused
allowances or 'borrow' for those that want to bring forward part of their future
allocation.
"Combined with existing waste targets, this scheme will encourage the move away
from landfill and towards more sustainable waste management practices."
The EU Landfill Directive is a key objective for the diversion
of biodegradable municipal waste, as one Tonne of biodegradable waste (paper,
card, kitchen and garden waste and textiles) produces between 200 and 400m3 of
landfill gas.
Figures show that landfill sites released 25% of UK Methane
Emissions in 2001, which amounts to 2% of total Worldwide greenhouse emissions.
The requirements of the UK, under Article 5(2) of the EC
Directive (1999/31/EC) are as follows:
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by 2006 to reduce the amount of BMW going to landfill to 75% of
that produced in 1995
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by 2009 to reduce the amount of BMW going to landfill to 50% of
that produced in 1995
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by 2016 to reduce the amount of BMW going to landfill to 35% of
that produced in 1995.
DEFRA have launched an electronic planning tool, known as
M-BEAM, to help local authorities integrate LATS waste strategy, enabling them
to use the flexibilities provided within the scheme and can be accessed by
clicking the following:
.DEFRA
Electronic Planning Tool - M-BEAM
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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