LAW ON TOE WAY
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• The European Landfill Directive is due to become UK law by this July. It targets reductions in the landfill of biodegradable municipal (mainly household) waste. Within five years biodegradable waste to landfill must be reduced to 75% of the 1995 level, and within 15 years this must be cut to 35%. However, the government may apply to have these deadlines extended by four years.
The UK currently sends 27 million tonnes of municipal waste to landfill sites every year, around 60% of which is biodegradable. The directive also requires that most waste destined for landfill sites should be treated first, and it will ban the disposal of certain wastes in landfill, including liquid waste, certain hazardous substances and tyres.
The government's Waste Strategy, published last May, set statutory targets for local authorities to recycle and compost 17% of household waste by 2003 and 25% by 2005. They have some way to go—the average recycling rate is currently 9%. However, last year's government spending review provided 2.140m to help local authorities meet these targets.
The government has also established The Waste and Resources Action Programme (with initial funding of £30m) to promote new markets and uses for recycled materials.
Under the Packaging Waste Regulations 1997, producers are required to recycle 16% of their waste this year.