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Managing Waste

Around 280 million tonnes of waste are produced in England each year – 9% of which is from households – at a cost for local authorities of £2b a year. The aim in managing waste should be to re-use, reduce and recycle as much as possible to limit the environmental and economic impact of waste.

Because the amount of waste produced is rising, it is vital to reduce the amount produced and also to encourage sustainable waste management.

Where waste collection practices are poor, there is more litter. According to Defra, figures show that waste placed out too early by either households or businesses is a serious issue for many authorities. The clear up and disposal cost of single items is costing them around £8m a year. A single bag, if left, will attract other waste and litter and problems associated with rats, foxes and gulls. Pest experts estimate that the rat population now stands at 60m with infestations increasing by 24% during the last two years To manage household waste in the long-term, it is crucial that householders get involved in waste reduction, re-use, recycling and composting. To encourage this, local authorities should consider providing appropriate recycling facilities for householders such as 'bring' recycling centres at civic amenity sites and at the kerbside.

The Household Waste Recycling Act 2003 requires all waste collection authorities to provide kerbside collection of at least two recyclable materials by 2010. National targets have been set for 2010 to recycle (30%) and 2015 (33%). The UK also has legally binding obligations under the EU Landfill Directive to radically reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) aims to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment, by increasing re-use and recycling and reducing the amount of WEEE going to landfill.
It aims to achieve this by making producers responsible for financing the collection, treatment, and recovery of waste electrical equipment, and by obliging distributors to allow consumers to return their waste equipment free of charge. The UK Regulations implementing the WEEE Directive came into force in January 2007.