Waste policy

Waste management and planning is heavily influenced by both European directives and national legislation.

European directives

Towards a thematic strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste was adopted by the European Commission in 2003 as the first step to a strategy for waste prevention and recycling in member states.

The Waste Framework Directive supports the implementation of waste hierarchy by requiring waste management methods such as re-use and recycling above disposal and insisting that any waste that does go to disposal does so as close to the source as possible.

The Landfill Directive contains landfill diversion targets to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill. By 2020 the amount will be 35 per cent of the 1995 level.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) requires manufacturers to provide for separately collected waste electrical and electronic equipment. It includes specific targets for recovery, reuse and recycling.

The End Of Life Vehicles Directive (ELV) requires that producers limit the use of certain hazardous substances in the manufacture of new vehicles and automotive components whilst promoting the recyclability of their vehicles.

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive requires certain businesses to meet packaging recovery targets. These targets are revised every five years, with the latest version coming into force in January 2004.

National waste policy and legislation

The Waste Strategy for England 2007 translates the principles of the Waste Framework Directive and Landfill Directive into UK policy. It emphasises waste prevention, meet landfill targets and invest in infrastructure and recycling and sets targets for recycling and composting household waste and the recovering municipal waste. A new version of the Waste Strategy is expected to be published later in 2010.

The Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003 reduces our reliance on landfill by rationing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste that may be disposed through a system of tradable allowances. The Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS) allows authorities trade their allowances with other authorities, bank them for future years or use some of them in advance.

The Household Waste Recycling Act 2003 requires all English waste collection authorities to collect at least two types of recyclable waste from all households in their area. These could include batteries, garden waste, glass, hazardous household liquids (such as paint and varnish), kitchen waste, metals, paper, plastics, textiles and shoes, electrical or electronic waste (e-waste) and wood.

Planning policy statement 10 (PPS10) establishes key planning objectives through which planning authorities should prepare and deliver their waste planning strategies. It reflects many of the principles of the waste framework directive and encourages authorities to identify suitable site opportunities for waste management facilities.

National indicators related to waste

• NI 191 – Residual household waste per household
• NI 192 – Household waste reused, recycled and composted
• NI 193 – Municipal waste land filled.