The WLGA is the latest in a long line of organisations issuing warnings over the forthcoming ban on co-disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste in landfills. The ban, a requirement of the Landfill Directive, will see no landfills in Wales able to take hazardous waste from July 2004, and only 10 in England, a sharp drop from the 182 sites this year.
The Environment Agency believes as much as two million tonnes of hazardous waste will have nowhere to go because of the lack of treatment facilities (see letsrecycle.com story).
Although the Welsh Assembly Government has said it is “working towards a solution” (see letsrecycle.com story), the problem will be exacerbated by the Hazardous Waste Directive. Under this Directive, more wastes will be classified as hazardous – including televisions, computer monitors and some types of battery – which will add more material to the “hazardous waste mountain”.
But whereas the Welsh Assembly government sees minimisation as the key to dealing with the problem, while the Environment Agency has said awareness is the key, WLGA spokesperson for environment Graham Court said what was really needed was increased treatment and recycling facilities.
Cllr Court said: “The WLGA recognises the imminent problem faced by local authorities in Wales as a result of there being no hazardous waste landfills available to them in Wales after July next year and believes that there are a number of ways to address the problem in the long term. Whilst we support the Environment Agency’s call for a strategy to increase industry’s awareness of the situation, the WLGA believes the problem can be addressed by developing new technologies and facilities to deal with this particular waste.”
Unscrupulous
As well as finding a home for the material, there is also the issue of transporting hazardous waste long distances to consider, the WLGA said. The lack of treatment facilities could also see an increase in “unscrupulous businesses” disposing of hazardous waste illegally, it warned.
The Association is now organising seminars to increase awareness of the problem among council officers.
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