2.4 The EU Landfill Directive

The EU Landfill Directive is one of the key drivers behind the National Waste Strategy: Scotland. The Directive imposes environmental and engineering standards for landfills across Europe and will ban the landfilling of many substances that are disposed of in this way at present. The Directive also requires a progressive reduction in the landfilling of BMW and the pre-treatment of wastes before landfilling, to both reduce waste volume and minimise the environmental impact of disposal. This will assist in the reduction of landfill gases, such as methane, which are significant contributors to global warming.

2.4.1 Diversion of Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW)

The Directive establishes national targets and timescales for the reduction of BMW to landfill. Where member states are particularly dependent on landfill they will be allowed to defer the implementation of the target dates by up to 4 years. It is expected that the UK will take advantage of this derogation. The UK has to report to the European Commission by July 2003 giving details of how the targets will be met and a decision on whether to extend the target dates will be taken then.

From a baseline of 1995, the amount of BMW allowed to landfill will be (depending on whether the four year delay is used) as follows:

• 75% of 1995 levels by 2006, or 2010 with derogation
  

• 50% of 1995 levels by 2009 or 2013 with derogation
  

• 35% of 1995 levels by 2016 or 2020 with derogation

In developing this AWP the assumption has been made, on consultation with the Scottish Executive, that the 4-year delay will be taken. However, the intention is to reach these targets earlier wherever possible.

What will this mean for the North East Area?
For the North East Area, two projection rates were assumed 1) zero growth in waste due to waste reduction measures and 2) 1.5% annual growth if waste reduction measures are not put in place. Tables 2.1 and 2.2 show the BMW diversion from landfill that will be required for each of the target years.

Table 2.1 - BMW (1) to Landfill Assuming Zero Growth (Tonnes)

Table 2.1 shows that the BMW diversion required by 2020 will be 114,000 tonnes. (Approximately 189,000 tonnes of MSW will need to be diverted away from landfill).

Table 2.2 - BMW to Landfill Assuming 1.5% Growth (Tonnes)

Table 2.2 shows that the BMW diversion required by 2020 will be 193,000 tonnes (Approximately 320,000 tonnes of MSW will need to be diverted away from landfill).

By adopting a zero waste growth strategy there could be 131,000 tonnes less municipal waste requiring to be treated in 2020.

Action 8
Investigate options to develop a framework for waste analysis of MSW over the long term in the North East.

2.4.2 Landfill Permits

A key mechanism in controlling the amount BMW each local authority will be allowed to landfill in future will be a system of Landfill Permits. The Scottish Executive will decide if local authorities will be able to trade their allowances. This would allow local authorities in areas where the additional costs of BMW diversion from landfill are disproportionately high or where landfilling is the agreed BPEO to ‘buy permits’ from other local authorities that are exceeding their individual BMW landfill diversion target. It is the responsibility of each local authority in the Waste Strategy Area Group to determine how to use the permits allocated to them by the Scottish Executive. The overall allocation of allowances will be set to reduce the amount of BMW sent to landfill. Until the working detail of the ‘tradable permit system’ is known and the 1995 baseline figures allocated to each local authority, the full impact on the North East cannot be determined.

The BPEO chosen for the area aims to ensure that there will be no requirements to purchase ‘landfill permits up to 2020 after which, permits may have to be purchased. The estimated landfill surplus is shown in Table 2.1.3.

Table 2.3 - Projected BMW Landfilled (Tonnes)

2.4.3 Other Technical Requirements

The Landfill Directive has a number of other requirements, which will have an impact on the ability of landfill sites to accept certain waste types that are likely to increase the costs of landfill and could potentially shorten the life of some sites. Until a full assessment of the North East landfill sites against the Landfill Directive criteria has been made, the full impact of the Directive will not be fully understood. The main requirements of the Directive are as follows:

• Classification of sites to certain standards or acceptance of certain waste types. It is expected that at least one landfill site in the North East will be able to accept hazardous wastes.
  

• Specific wastes banned from landfill, including liquids and tyres.
  

• Increased technical and engineering standards.
  

• Waste requires to be treated prior to acceptance into landfill in order to reduce its volume or hazardous nature, facilitate its handling or enhance recovery.

Notes
(1) Assumed to be 60% of 292,000 (ERM 14 Jan. 03)

(2) ERM calculations (ERM 14 Jan. 03)

(3) Scottish Executive estimate of 292,182 tonnes of MSW in 1995 (January 09 2003)

(4) ERM Estimate 9 December 2002