DEFRA publishes consultation on meeting EU Landfill Diversion Targets

This consultation addresses the changes necessary to enable the UK to report to the European Commission on a revised approach to the landfill diversion targets. This includes setting out the new interpretation of the definition of municipal waste; revisions to the 1995 baseline and targets; and the reporting and monitoring obligations necessary to enable robust reporting against the targets to the European Commission at a UK level. For England only it also seeks views on the future of the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme, and the most effective combination of policies Defra should pursue, that address both the local authority and private sector elements of municipal waste, to provide the necessary confidence that England meets its targets. Related to this a separate consultation on future landfill restrictions has also been published today.

Views are requested on a number of consultation questions on options for reporting and monitoring obligations, policies to divert biodegradable waste from landfill and amending existing legislation

The consultation is aimed at local authorities and the waste management industry.

The closing date for this consultation is 10th June 2010 and the can be viewed at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/landfill-diversion/index.htm