Publication considers restricting unnecessary waste sent to landfills

A joint Defra and Welsh Assembly Government publication outlines the aim to sort more waste, save resources and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

‘Consultation on the Introduction of Restrictions on the Landfilling of Certain Wastes’ considers the case for restricting sending paper and card, food, textiles, metals, wood, garden waste, glass, plastics and electrical and electronic equipment to landfill.

By thinking about what to do with waste instead of sending it directly to landfill, there may be new markets for recycled products and recovered materials and new jobs as the waste sector gets bigger over time.

Also, householders, businesses and councils saving money, by providing an incentive to prevent waste from arising in the first place and a reduction in food waste and more energy generated from waste.

The consultation seeks views on different options to restrict these wastes sent to landfill including doing nothing and relying on current measures such as landfill tax to continue to reduce the amount we landfill and  introducing bans on landfilling on their own or accompanied by a requirement for waste to be sorted.

Also, introducing a sorting or tougher pre-treatment requirement without a landfill ban and introducing producer responsibility requirements for certain wastes.

Hilary Benn said: "We must take action to reduce the constant demand for new materials when we can recover materials from used products – this costs less money and saves the earth’s precious resources at the same time."

"I am making it very clear today that any obligation to sort waste would fall primarily on the waste collection authority and on businesses, and not the individual householder."

Further information:
Defra
Welsh Assembly Government