Landfill Allowance Scheme

The Landfill Allowance Scheme (LAS) was introduced to deliver the landfill diversion targets set out in article 5 of the EU Landfill Directive.  It came into force through legislation in April 2005 and identified SEPA as the competent monitoring authority.  

The LAS has been successful in reducing the quantity of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) to landfill.  However, under the Landfill Directive it would still be permissible to landfill 1.26 million tonnes  of Scottish BMW in 2020. The Scottish Government aims to go much further and reduce to zero the quantity of BMW sent to landfill. To achieve this, the Scottish Government has set out in a policy statement its intention implement a complete ban on the landfilling of BMW from 2020.

This ban will be regulated directly by SEPA through Landfill Permits and means that the system of banking, borrowing and penalties under the LAS is no longer required. Scottish Government, therefore, intends to revoke the Landfill Allowance Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2005 early in 2012.