Q1. What changes will we need to make? |  | | ||||||||
Implementing the proposals within the Waste Strategy will mean significant changes to how we currently manage waste in Warwickshire. We need to focus on reducing the amount of waste we generate, while reusing and recycling as much as possible. It will mean changes to how waste is collected and the types of material collected from the kerbside. We will also need to invest in household waste recycling centre infrastructure, increasing the types of materials that we can accept for recycling. | |  | ||||||||
The most significant changes will be the need to invest in new treatment facilities. We will need in-vessel composting facilities to treat garden and food waste and an energy from waste facility to treat residual waste that cannot be recycled or composted. Visit the progress webpage to find out how the implementation of the strategy is progressing. [Top] | ||||||||||
Q2. If we cannot rely on landfill - what can we do with our waste? | ||||||||||
It is no longer viable to rely on landfill as our main means of disposal. We have to change how we manage waste to move the waste up the waste hierarchy. Working towards sustainable methods of waste management, which in turn will help to achieve our landfill diversion targets and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. [Top] | |  | ||||||||
Q3. How much will implementing the strategy cost? | ||||||||||
To meet our challenging targets it is essential that we invest in new waste treatment facilities. Landfilling waste has always been a cheap option, particularly in Warwickshire. However this is set to change. We have modelled our preferred options for managing waste and have estimated how much it will cost to divert waste away from landfill by in-vessel composting and using energy from waste. The costs shown in the following table include the estimated costs of collection, recycling, composting , treatment and disposal. It is also assumed that we will send a minimum of 30,000 tonnes of waste to Coventry and Solihull's Energy from Waste facility. Revenue cost for total collection and disposal (£ million/ year)
The equivalent cost in terms of estimated payments per household in 2015 has been calculated at £117 per year. We have assumed that the number of households in Warwickshire will increase from 220,000 to 249,000 and that by 2015 all new infrastructure will be in place. The cost includes collection, recycling, composting, treatment and disposal. It does not include the cost for waste minimisation initiatives, which are critical to the success of the Strategy. [Top] | ||||||||||
Q4. What happens if we 'do nothing' and carry on landfilling our waste? | ||||||||||
If we make no attempt to reduce the amount of waste, particularly biodegradable waste that we send to landfill, we will not meet out recycling or landfill diversion targets. If we fail to meet our landfill diversion targets and continue to landfill over and above our specified annual allowances we will face substantial fines. We will be fined by the Government £150 for every tonne of waste that we landfill over our permitted allowances. If Warwickshire exceeds its allowance in one of the three EU target years (2010, 2013, 2020) there is the potential for even greater fines. | |  | ||||||||
| The Government has stated that if in a target year an authority exceeds its allowances and as a result is responsible for England missing its overall target, the Government may pass on a proportion of the EU fine onto the breaching authority. It is anticipated that the EU fine will be in the region of £300,000 per day until the breach is rectified. Clearly, this would have very serious financial implications for any authority that exceeds its allowances. There is a trading system in place, which allows authorities with surplus allowances to sell them to authorities with a deficit. However, as the market is new there is uncertainty over how many allowances will be available and also how much they will cost. It has been estimated that if we 'do nothing' and fail to meet our diversion targets, we could face fines in the region of £15 million a year in an EU target year! This is clearly not an option, which is why the Warwickshire authorities have been working together to develop a robust Waste Strategy. [Top] | ||||||||||
| c/o Warwickshire County Council, Shire Hall, Warwick CV34 4RA | Telephone: 01926 412593 |
