Legislation

What is it?

The Landfill Directive was created to prevent and reduce the effects of waste disposal in landfill sites on the environment and human health. Businesses are now responsible for making sure their waste is treated before being sent to landfill.

The pre-treatment regulations for non-hazardous wastes came into force in the UK on 31 October 2007. They have had a significant impact on all businesses that are now required to treat their waste.

Who is affected?

Businesses must ensure that all non-hazardous waste is treated before sending it to landfill. It can either be treated in-house or pre-treatment may be done for you by a legally permitted third party, such as your waste management contractor.

It is beneficial to produce a written declaration if you treat your own waste. To find out how to do this, please visit the Environmental Agency’s pages on Landfill waste.

What must you do?

You must ensure that your waste is treated before it goes to landfill. Permitted treatments may be physical, thermal, chemical or biological.

Generally treatment is used to reduce the volume of the waste, the hazardous nature of the waste or make handling or recovery easier.

Examples of treatment include:

• Biological treatment such as composting or anaerobic digestion

• Collecting waste streams separately so one or more of the separated components can be recycled

• Thermal treatment such as incineration.

For more information on treatments and more detail on the Landfill Directive, please visit the Environmental Agency’s pages on Landfill waste.