Invest in waste - or be fined
- Published: 25 September 2008 08:51
- Author: James Illman
- More by this Author
- Last Updated: 25 September 2008 09:15
Councils have been told to invest in plants converting waste into energy or fuel to avoid hefty fines.
An Audit Commission report says councils cannot rely solely on creating less waste and recycling more if they are to hit incoming European Union targets.
The report described treatment plants as "major, often controversial, projects that cost a minimum of £20m and can take ten years or more to deliver".
But while these projects may appear unappealing to many cash strapped councils, the report said that it may be the only way to avoid being fined. Other means of hitting targets include getting involved in landfill trading schemes.
Audit Commission chairman, Michael O'Higgins, said: "You only have to look in your own bin to see that not everything you throw away can be recycled, so we've got to find somewhere other than landfill to put it."
The EU Landfill Directive stipulates that the UK must reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled to 75%, 50% and 35% of its 1995 level by 2010, 2013 and 2020 respectively.
If the national target is exceeded by 10%, English councils would share penalties of around £100m.
