EA to take tougher line over pre-treatment rules

The Environment Agency has announced it will be expecting landfill operators to obtain written evidence from their customers that their waste has been pre-treated, which can include recycling, from April 30.

The announcement comes five months after the regulations on landfill came into force in October 2007 which require waste to undergo a physical, thermal, chemical or biological process (including sorting) to reduce its volume or hazardous nature, facilitate its handling or enhance its recovery (see letsrecycle.com story).

In that time, the Environment Agency says it has worked with the waste management industry to raise awareness amongst businesses and to encourage them to change their waste management practises. Landfill operators have also been allowed to accept waste without evidence it has been treated.

Liz Parkes, head of waste at the Environment Agency, said: “We've been taking a sensible approach to enforcing these new rules, which since October 2007 require waste to be pre-treated before it is landfilled.”

She added: “The feedback we have had from the waste management industry and business tells us that the system is working well and delivering real environmental benefits. The waste management industry is also telling us they are ready for us to take a tougher line with those who break the rules. So from 30 April we expect landfill operators to obtain written evidence from their customers that waste has been pre-treated.”

Businesses

The landfill rule changes mean businesses who produce or manage waste going to landfill must check whether it is being treated. If it isn't, they will need to treat it themselves or ensure that their waste management contractor does this for them.

Treatment can be as simple as separating different wastes at source, and recycling one or more of the separated components.

Businesses who produce liquid waste have to find alternative disposal methods, because liquids were also banned from landfill in October 2007.

Liz Parkes continued: “We are continuing to work with business and the waste management industry to get the message across and there is help available from a range of sources to help businesses meet the new rules. Speak to your waste management contractor or your trade association, or visit our website for simple, straight-forward guidance.”

Dirk Hazell, Chief Executive at the Environmental Services Association, a trade body representing the UK's waste management and secondary resources industry, said: “We hope waste producers will work with us to make a success of these changes. It is really important that waste producers ensure they provide the right information to their waste management company to ensure compliance with the Landfill Directive.”

Liz Parkes added: “Much of the waste we send to landfill is already treated, however for some wastes more effort is needed. There are many easy ways for business to treat waste that deliver real environmental benefits.”

Ms Parkes explained that the Environment Agency would now monitor compliance with the rules under its inspection programme and audit of landfills and where necessary, take enforcement action in the usual way.