How to comply with the landfill directive without incineration

A Greenpeace Blueprint

Publication date: November 2001

Summary
This report details a practical strategy which local authorities can use to achieve maximum recycling rates and safely deal with residual waste. Reviewed and endorsed as practical and entirely achievable by Biffa Waste, the report illustrates possible options with examples of techniques and technology from around the world as well as in the UK.

Landfilling of municipal waste has to be reduced for a variety of reasons. The current practice of landfilling mixed municipal waste is highly polluting, as well as unpopular and ultimately unsustainable. Now the European Landfill Directive, which came into effect on 16 July 2001, demands significant reductions in the quantity of biodegradable waste disposed of in this way. As part of the drive to comply with the Landfill Directive, the Government has set mandatory recycling targets for local authorities.

Some local authorities are arguing that incineration is necessary to meet the UK's commitments under the Directive, or to deal with residual waste left after maximum practical recycling levels have been achieved. Neither of these arguments is tenable.