Highlighting the scheme in the run up to its start in April 2005, the government said the scheme is a “further step in the drive to move to more sustainable waste management practices, like composting, for biodegradable waste, such as kitchen and garden waste”.
Defra said LATS would benefit councils including Isle of Wight district council, Windsor & Maidenhead borough council and Dorset county council “who have taken the lead in dealing with kitchen and garden waste”.
”Through the flexibilities of trading, banking and borrowing, authorities can find the most cost-effective means of meeting waste targets.“
– Elliot Morley
LATS is the government's key measure in meeting “tough targets” set by the European Landfill Directive to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill sites. Under the scheme, authorities will be set allowances for the amount of biodegradable waste they can landfill.
Greenhouse
Defra highlighted the importance of diverting material away from landfill, stating that one tonne of biodegradable waste produces between 200 and 400 cubic metres of landfill gas, which is mostly methane. Landfills released 25% of the UK's methane emissions in 2001, which represents 2% of our total greenhouse gas emissions.
By 2010, biodegradable waste going to landfill must be 75% of the amount produced in 1995; by 2013 this is reduced to 50% and by 2020 to 35%.
Environment minister Elliot Morley welcomed the scheme this week, after its formal approval by both Houses of Parliament.
Mr Morley said: “These Regulations create a trading scheme that allows councils to cut the amount of waste going to landfill sites where it is most cost effective to do so. It is an innovative approach which moves government away from the old tools of command and control by offering an alternative to the regulatory system of inflexible targets.”
Trade
Under LATS, waste disposal authorities will be able to trade their allowances with other disposal authorities – selling allowances if their waste has been diverted to recycling or composting, or buying allowances if they exceed their set allowances. Waste disposal authorities will also be able to save unused allowances (bank) or bring forward part of their future allocation (borrow).
Mr Morley said: “Through the flexibilities of trading, banking and borrowing, authorities can find the most cost-effective means of meeting waste targets, tailored to their specific waste strategies and circumstances.”
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the LATS system is designed to give local authorities as much flexibility as possible, whilst still ensuring that the Landfill Directive targets are met.
Earlier this month, local authorities were told that the penalty for non-compliance with targets to divert biodegradable waste from landfill would be reduced from 200/tonne to 150/tonne. Mr Morley said “This should not mean an increase of pressure on council bills.”
b>For a detailed report on the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme, see the letsrecycle.com legislation section.
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