Future of waste management

How we deal with our waste has become one of the most important issues for communities and councils. The UK’s over-reliance on landfill as a means of disposal has become a serious environmental problem. Methane gas emitted from landfill sites is one of the most damaging greenhouse gases. Although some can be captured and used to generate electricity, a significant quantity still escapes to atmosphere. European law requires us to reduce the total tonnages sent to landfill. Each Waste Disposal Authority has been given a maximum target tonnage. Fines of £150 per tonne will be imposed for any additional waste sent to landfill. These costs would have to be passed to council tax payers. It is, therefore, in everyone's interests to manage our waste more effectively.

Where does CSS stand?

CSS is leading current thinking on how strategic councils can deal with growing quantities of municipal waste. It commissioned research to quantify the scale of the cost of treatment and disposal and has used this information to advise local and central Government.

CSS members recognise that the way ahead lies in treating waste as a resource and in much greater investment in new technologies. Achieving acceptance from local communities will require a sustained nationwide information programme and close local consultation on specific projects. This, with other recycling and waste reduction initiatives, would help to drive council recycling levels up from the current average of 22 per cent to nearer 50 per cent. Such consultation – and, ultimately, progress - is facilitated by good waste management planning. CSS members advise their councils on Local Waste Plans and the new Local Development Frameworks. These documents provide the planning context for waste management facilities for all types of waste

Businesses, especially the retail sector, must be encouraged to reduce the amount of packaging they generate. CSS is working with the Local Government Association to increase the incentives and penalties.

CSS believes that the Government should recognise that there is insufficient money in the Formula for Spending Share (FSS) to support the growing pressures on waste services budgets in councils. Using research undertaken by the CSS Research Fund in 2001, it has argued that unless these resources are made available, the UK will not achieve its EU targets for diversion from landfill. CSS accepts that fines and the Landfill Allocation Trading Scheme (LATS) have an important part to play. However, it also believes that there should be a separate “waste block” within the FSS to indicate the significance of this area of expenditure, rather than incorporating it in the Environment Block.