Waste - National Responses (United Kingdom)

Waste policy is a devolved matter in the UK, therefore in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the devolved administrations are responsible for strategy and policy relating to waste management. However, despite differences in the specifics of policy measures, national priorities for waste have been consistent in aiming to drive action further up the waste hierarchy, thus making a transition from the landfilling of waste, towards prevention, re-use and energy recovery, along with a reduction of GHG emissions from waste management. In addition there is the EU legislative framework which is a consistent policy driver across the UK. A recent change of administration in England means that specific English policy measures currently in place are liable to change to reflect the views and priorities of the new government. The England Waste Strategy 2007 was produced under a previous government and as such does not necessarily reflect the current administrations intended response. However, some of the major UK responses are set out below.

EU Directives:

In response to the EU Batteries Directive, laws were introduced in the UK in February 2010, to enforce battery recycling. Vendors of batteries weighing more than 32kg a year are required to take back used batteries, from the public, free of charge. Collection targets of 25 per cent by 2012 and 45 per cent by 2016 are to be reached. The Defra website provides details of the regulations introduced.

In response to the Landfill Directive and its targets for BMW to landfill, countries established national landfill allowance schemes. These place decreasing limits on the amount of BMW local authorities can landfill in order for the UK to meet its overall targets.

England: Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS).

Scotland: Landfill Allowance Scheme (LAS).

Wales: Landfill Allowance Scheme (LAS).

Northern Ireland: Landfill Allowance Scheme (NILAS).

The Revised Waste Framework Directive, currently in transposition phase, introduces new targets for household recycling and construction and demolition recovery. Countries are currently considering what policy responses may be required to ensure these targets are met.

Climate Change Act 2008:

The Climate Change Act 2008 establishes a long term framework to tackle climate change, through legally binding emissions reduction targets. The world’s first ‘carbon budgets’ have been introduced in the UK to meet the targets set. A ‘carbon budget’ is a cap on the total quantity of GHG emissions emitted in the UK over a specified time. DECC provide more information on carbon budgets and the levels of emissions reductions that are to be achieved.

In the long term, analysis is being undertaken to identify the decisions necessary to ensure that UK greenhouse gas emissions are cut by at least 80 per cent (from 1990 levels) by 2050. For each sector, including the waste sector, analysis has been undertaken to develop different emissions and energy trajectories to explore different approaches to decarbonisation, where the UK meets its greenhouse gas emissions targets and maintains energy security. The aim is not to identify a particular pathway to 2050 but to develop an analytical tool that the Government uses to develop strategy going forward. For more information on the 2050 roadmap analysis, see the annex of the Energy Market Assessment.

National Waste Plans & Strategy:

Each of the devolved administrations has a waste strategy outlining targets to achieve more sustainable waste management. This involves conversion from relying on the landfill of waste, to waste prevention and increasingly, the viewing of waste as a resource.

England: The England Waste Strategy 2007 was produced under a previous government and as such does not necessarily reflect the current administrations intended response. A review of waste policy is currently underway and the results are due in Spring 2011.

Wales: Towards Zero Waste: The Overarching Waste Strategy, 2010

Northern Ireland: Waste Management Strategy 2006 to 2020

Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan 2010

Landfill Tax:

Landfill Tax is a tax on the disposal of waste by way of landfill. It aims to encourage waste producers to produce less waste and recover more value from waste i.e. through recycling. It means that it is becoming more and more expensive to send waste to landfill.