Welsh local authorities sent five per cent less biodegradable waste to landfill in 2013/14 than in 2012/13, but four councils are still sending more to landfill than they are allowed, Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the government-sponsored body for protecting Wales’s resources, has announced.

According to its report covering the ninth full year of the Landfill Allowances Scheme (LAS) in Wales (which sets limits on the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) councils can send to landfill, in a bid to reduce carbon emissions), Welsh local authorities sent 345,022 tonnes of BMW for disposal at landfill between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014.

Report details

This figure is 23 per cent less (104,978 tonnes) than the yearly allowance and represents a five per cent drop on 2012/13 figures and a 59 per cent reduction in the amount of BMW sent to landfill since LAS began in 2005/06.

However, despite the overall tonnage falling, the figures were largely pulled up by the eight councils that diverted the most BMW away from landfill (by sending it for composting, for example) and thus have ‘significant headroom’ to meet future obligations.

The authorities in Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Denbighshire, Neath Port Talbot and Torfaen used less than 50 per cent of their allocated allowance, Ceredigon and Monmouthshire used less than 60 per cent of their allocated allowance, and Powys used less than 70 per cent of its allocated allowance.

Four councils (Cardiff City Council, Flintshire County Council, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, and Newport City Council) failed to stay under their allowance, sending more than 100 per cent of BMW to landfill (0.1 per cent, 2.1 per cent, 1.4 per cent, and 1.4 per cent respectively). As such, these councils are liable to financial penalties. However, the Welsh Government has said it will continue to work with the authorities to help them improve.

Three authorities, Caerphilly County Borough Council, Gwynedd Council and Wrexham County Borough Council also used more than 90 per cent of their allocated allowance, and as such have ‘the least headroom’ to meet future obligations.

The report also found that the level of prompt reporting in 2013/14 was slightly better than the previous year. Fifteen local authorities consistently reported on time throughout the quarterly reporting period, two more than in 2012/13.

‘Leading the way in reducing the waste we sent to landfill’

Welsh Minister for Natural Resources, Culture and Sport John Griffiths congratulated Welsh councils for meeting their targets to reduce the amount of BMW sent to landfill, saying: “I’m pleased to see that we are continuing to meet our targets to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste we send to landfill; Welsh councils sent five per cent less to landfill compared to last year. It demonstrates that we are continuing to progress even as the targets become more challenging. We will continue to work with councils to support them to improve.

“As well as helping councils to avoid landfill taxes, there is a clear environmental benefit. Biodegradable waste in landfill sites produces methane, which is 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.”

He added that “Wales is leading the way in reducing the waste we sent [sic] to landfill and recycling, composting and reusing as much as possible”. Indeed, Wales is the only UK nation to have surpassed the 50 per cent recycling mark, and recycled 54 per cent of its municipal waste in the first three months of 2014.

Ceri Davies, Executive Director for NRW, added: “It is great to see that local authorities are stepping up to meet this challenge. Less waste going to landfill shows that we are managing our resources better, which is good for the people, economy and environment of Wales.”

As well as setting limits on the amount of biodegradable waste that can go to landfill, the Welsh Government is looking to introduce a complete ban on sending BMW to landfill in future. Under the proposed Environment Bill, a draft of which was released last year, by 2017, local authorities could have to divert food and wood waste from landfill, as well as ‘target materials’ such as paper, card, glass, plastic, and metal.

It is expected that the bill will be passed in ‘Spring 2016’.

Read the full LAS report for 2013/14 or find out more about the Environment Bill.