The Environment Agency said that it needs to recruit more staff to implement the directive and is now undertaking one of the largest recruitment initiatives it has ever carried out. The Agency is looking to employ 50 environment protection officers and 20 of these will be working on duties directly linked to the directive.
Applicants must have a science-based education to A-level or degree standard. Successful applicants will be provided with a structured training programme and when trained will ensure operators comply with the legislation. They will also respond to incidents and undertake statutory environmental monitoring of both waste and water.
Agency recruitment adviser Katy Warner said: “Many people with environmental interests may not have thought of a career in this area before because the extent of the opportunities and the range of our work are not always obvious. We advise, influence and enforce legislation to protect and improve the environment.
The work we do is both important and diverse. The size and reach of our organisation means that we can and do make a difference.”
The EU Landfill Directive applies to all landfills accepting waste on or after 16 July 2001. New landfills or those requiring substantial modification to their existing licence, needed to comply from that date. Existing landfills are required to meet the directive requirements by July 2009 and to submit site conditioning plans setting out how these requirements are to be met by July 16 2002.
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