The report, entitled Improving from the Ground Up was produced by SITA UK, one of the largest waste management companies operating in the UK. It says that a strong economic and regulatory framework is needed if investment in new waste technologies and alternatives to landfill are to be viable.
 SITA UK's 2002 Environment Report, Improving from the Ground Up |
Despite efforts by the government to reduce landfill with improved recycling and re-use awareness, the report reveals that in 2002 the UK produced 432 million tonnes of waste, with just under 90% going to landfill. It also stated that the growth of annual waste volumes from both households and industrial and commercial sectors is likely to remain “untouched” at 3%.
Commenting on the report, SITA UK's new managing director, Per-Anders Hjort said: “Our report merely highlights the fact that despite the efforts of the waste management industry, the way waste is managed in the UK is unlikely to change because of the weak economic and regulatory framework that exists.”
SITA UK's report bases some of its conclusions on the experiences of its sister companies in Europe, where it says legislation has been introduced more stringently and where individual countries have been more forthcoming in pushing the waste producer to take responsibility for the waste they produce.
Mr Hjort explained: “Dealing with society's waste is our business, but the way we as a nation consume resources and then dispose of them is unsustainable. As a leading environmental services company, we recognise we have an important role to play in educating the public and business community, shaping opinion in our industry and influencing the policy makers so as to create the climate in which a culture change can take place.
SITA UK's 2002 Environment Report, Improving from the Ground Up is available on the SITA website.
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