The Landfill Directive
On 30 October 2007, the next stage of the EU Landfill Directive came into effect, and it’s had a major impact on how businesses dispose of their waste. The directive is aimed at reducing the sheer volume of general waste being sent to landfill, and requires businesses to ‘pre-treat’ their waste and remove any recyclable materials at source. It also bans non-hazardous liquids from landfill (hazardous liquids are already banned) including, for example, edible oils and some paints and inks.
In conjunction with the financial pressures of the ever-increasing Landfill tax, this legislation means that landfill is set to become an increasingly expensive and socially undesirable option.