Brownfield development may restrict landfill: we must recycle more

Local Government leaders have warned that landfill space will run out within the next nine years unless recycling rates are boosted. The warning comes as figures reveal that an area the size of Warwick, which covers 109 square miles, is already taken up by landfill. However, with brownfield sites now earmarked for development and green belt land protected, planning permission and local opposition may prevent any further large scale landfill sites being developed or used.

Local government leaders will also warn that unless bold reforms are made by householders, shops, businesses and manufacturers, recycling rates will not rise fast enough to meet landfill legislation and help tackle climate change. This will hit the pockets of taxpayers. From April 1 the landfill tax paid by councils increased to £24 per tonne and this will increase to £32 next year; up 33%. By 2010, Councils, and consequently the taxpayer, are facing fines of up to £150 per tonne of rubbish that is sent to be dumped into landfill sites over a set quota. According to the National Audit Office, by 2013 fines of up to £200 million could hit taxpayers for the failure to cut the amount that is thrown in landfills. Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said: ‘The huge amount of rubbish that is thrown into landfill is a deeply worrying unwelcome headache that is bad for the environment, bad for homes nearby and bad for the council taxpayer.

‘A town the size of Warwick is already being used to dump Britain’s rubbish and unless the ways of people and business change then it is estimated we will run out of landfill space in less than nine years. Reducing waste will also help cut harmful emissions that contribute to climate change. ‘Councils are using many different techniques to make sure that as much rubbish as possible is recycled to help the environment and keep council tax down. ‘It is up to each council, with their local residents, to decide which sort of approach is used to ensure that local residents help do their bit for the environment and keep council tax as low as possible. ‘With landfill taxes set to rise dramatically in the coming five years, there will be more and more pressure on councils to cut the amount of rubbish that gets thrown into landfill. ‘The National Audit Office has estimated that unless landfills rates drop dramatically in the coming years then councils, and the taxpayer will have to pay fines of £200million. ‘Britain is the dustbin of Europe with more rubbish being thrown into landfill than any other country on the continent.

For decades people have been used to being able to throw their rubbish away without worrying about environmental consequences or rising costs. Those days are now over. ‘The choice is simple and stark. Either people throw away more rubbish into their black bins and they will damage the environment or they recycle more and help save the planet.’