International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

55.4 Pre-implementation / Evaluation Studies Available
There were some studies which sought to understand the potential impact of the
LASs. One sought to outline potential instruments. 1020 Another study sought to
understand the interaction between the allowances system and the landfill tax. 1021
However, both of these focused upon the mechanisms rather than the expected
outcomes from the schemes.
55.5 Environmental Benefits
The environmental benefits of LASs are somewhat difficult to discern. In truth, the
effects appear to be varying by devolved administration, though this masks the
underlying activities which are leading to preparation for procurement of
infrastructure. The following comments examine the situation in each of the devolved
administrations. However, these comments are contextualised by some crucial points:
814
� The path to reducing landfilled BMW under a time constraint is achieved most
quickly through improving collection systems; and
� Procuring and commissioning infrastructure for treating residual waste has
been slow, partly owing to the nature of the procurement process, and partly
owing to the nature of what is being procured.
Hence, in the short-term, many authorities have focused upon recycling and
composting, recognising the time taken to procure residual waste treatment
infrastructure.
55.5.1 England
In England, the LASs have been crucial in focussing the minds of local authorities on
their obligations to deliver the Landfill Directive targets. Waste Strategy for England
2007 increased recycling targets for household waste, partly in recognition of the fact
that the pace of residual waste treatment was not sufficient to ensure Landfill
Directive targets would be met, and partly in recognition of the climate change
benefits of recycling.
Table 55-2 shows how landfilled BMW has declined in the UK over the first full years
of audited data. A 7% decrease in BMW landfilled was followed by an 8% decrease in
2007/8, so that in 2007/08, England landfilled 85 per cent of the BMW landfilled in
the first scheme year.
1020 D. Hogg (1999) Policy Instruments to Implement the Proposed Landfill Directive BMSW Targets,
Final Report to DETR.
1021 D. Hogg and R. Salmons (1999) Instruments to Implement the Proposed Landfill Directive BMSW
Targets, Final Report to DETR.
29/09/09