We are becoming less dependent on landfill
The Waste Data Update 2006 report from the Environment Agency shows that since 2001 almost 20 per cent less waste has been sent to landfill.
Martin Brocklehurst, Head of External Programmes at the Environment Agency, said: ‘Over 15.5 million tonnes of waste has been diverted away from landfill and into recycling facilities between 2001 and 2006. This is good news as it shows we are heading in the right direction to reduce our dependency on landfill by recycling more of our waste. However as well as continuing to reuse and recycle our waste, we also need to avoid producing it in the first place.’
Other key findings from the report include:
• We are recovering and re-using more waste – the amount of waste going into composting sites increased by 38 per cent and the amount into materials recovery facilities was up by 24 per cent between 2005 and 2006.
• Available landfill capacity remains unevenly distributed – landfill life in London, East of England and the South East is now 4 to 5 years, and averages between 6 and 11 years in other regions. These are projections and do not necessarily mean that we will physically run out of landfill space in the next few years. However it highlights the urgency that still exists to reduce waste production, promote waste recovery and develop new infrastructure to support this.
• We are sending less waste to fewer landfill sites – 750 licensed landfill sites were operational in December 2006 – this is 1,000 less since implementation of the Landfill Directive in 2005.
• Less hazardous waste is going to landfill – in 2006 only 900,000 tonnes of hazardous waste went to landfill compared to 2.3 million tonnes in 2004.
Martin Brocklehurst added: ’Landfill should be the last resort for waste that we can’t recover or recycle, as it is not sustainable to keep sending it to landfill. Also landfilling waste is set to become more expensive as the landfill tax goes up and waste has to travel greater distances for disposal as the number of sites reduces further.’
Waste Data Update 2006 is an annual report produced using data routinely collected by the Environment Agency from the waste management sites it regulates. It helps local authorities, regional planning bodies, government, and the waste management industry plan future waste management provision in England and Wales.
Waste Data Update 2006 is available at:
