Northampton, UK: In their efforts to achieve the Landfill Directive diversion targets through development of modern waste management facilities, Waste Disposal Authorities (WDAs) are "generally well supported in their waste procurements by central government".
This is one of the key findings that comes out of a report from Ernst & Young, in conjunction with the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management. The survey of local authorities sought the views of key officers on a range of waste issues. This was related to an earlier report from 2001, when the waste sector was in a very different landscape and the outcome indicates that significant progress has been made since then.
The results of the survey allowed Ernst & Young to lay out a vision of how the waste sector may develop in the short, and longer term.
Emissions stack penetrating the roof area of an energy from waste facility
The survey of 133 WDAs across the United Kingdom with a response rate of around 35 percent, says that energy from waste (Efw), mechanical biological treatment (MBT) and waste gasification are the preferred technologies for landfill diversion.
From a financial standpoint, over half of local authorities anticipate some form of private financial initiative (PFI) credits and in excess of 80% expect at least some support from council tax funding. Longer term design, build, finance and operate type contracts are likely to be the preferred type for WDAs, according to the survey.
The report found that, although there is "strong confidence" amongst WDAs to meet waste diversion targets, nevertheless funding remains a perceived major barrier to this achievement.
Despite moves to ease planning delays in obtaining consent for major waste management facilities, securing planning consent is still seen as an important barrier to achieving relevant targets.
From 2014 onwards the report expects that there will be more developer-led facilities arising, resulting from increased levels of landfill tax, which would essentially deal with wastes from the private sector with energy from waste being an important treatment method.
Further information
A copy of the Ernst Young report can be found at the CIWM website.
Web sites:
The Institution of Wastes Management
Ernst Young UK