New Opportunities in Waste Management Industry

A revolution in the world of waste management
Waste management has changed dramatically over the past few years. Dependence on landfill as the preferred method of waste disposal has steadily reduced with alternative methods sought mainly by local authorities but also commercial businesses. Even the simple perception of what “waste” is has also changed. As a result the industry as a whole should look more closely at the three Rs. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle with disposal as the last resort.

UK, or “the dirty man of Europe”
The UK is consuming natural resources at an unsustainable rate. If every country consumed natural resources at the rate the UK does, we would need three planets to live on. The UK generates roughly 100 million tonnes of waste from households, commerce and industry. Currently most of this ends up in landfill where the biodegradable part generates methane while valuable energy is used in extracting and processing new raw materials.
However the UK is already in the process of improving its green policy. In 1997 only 7% of England’s household waste was recycled. It has almost quadrupled to 27% - a tremendous achievement by the public and local authorities. Despite this improvement, the UK still remains a long way behind many of its European neighbours, who recycle well over half their municipal waste.
The Landfill Tax escalator, UK’s main fiscal measure encouraging diversion from landfill, means it is becoming more and more expensive to send waste to landfill.
Therefore it is time for change, and the government aim must be to reduce waste by making products with fewer natural resources. The link between economic growth and waste growth shall disappear. Most products should be re-used or their materials recycled. Energy should be recovered from other wastes where possible. Only and exclusively for a small amount of residual material, landfill will be necessary.

Changing regulation
EU Landfill Directive
The UK currently produces 28 million tonnes of municipal waste every year, 79% of which ends up in landfill. In England and Wales the directive is applied under the Landfill Regulations 2002 and must be fully implemented by July 2009. It sets demanding targets for the reduction of biodegradable municipal wastes sent to landfill which are detailed as follows:
-By 2010 we must reduce biodegradable municipal waste landfilled to 75% of that produced in 1995.
-By 2013 we must reduce biodegradable municipal waste landfilled to 50% of that produced in 1995.
-By 2020 we must reduce biodegradable municipal waste landfilled to 35% of that produced in 1995.

WEEE Directive
The UK generates around 1.9 million tonnes of Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) each year from domestic and commercial sources. Everyone should be aware that under the WEEE Directive, as from 1 July 2007, it is illegal to dispose of waste electrical and electronic equipment into Landfill.
The Directive affects producers, distributors and recyclers of electrical and electronic equipment and encompasses everything from electronic games, calculators, toasters and kettles to audio equipment, fridges, washing machines, commercial and industrial equipment. When put into landfill, WEEE relinquishes its toxins and pollutes the environment. The EU introduced a directive aimed at reducing WEEE, encouraging reuse, recovery of its base materials and reducing the environmental impact of disposal. The directive has passed into law in all member states.

Change means new opportunities and potential business
development

The evolution in waste policy was initiated by politics mainly for ecological reasons and green goals. Though this will have a greater impact on household waste managed by local authorities, it will also present major commercial opportunities for the waste management industry as waste producers will increasingly be looking towards it for innovative solutions to their problems.

Finally it will be interesting to keep an eye out for attractive new businesses, which could offer alternative options to current waste management processes. There is still room for opportunities. Change means opportunity: be ready to find out the right solutions to the new challenges of the waste industry!