The Environment Agency does not require landfill operators to specify in what year they will close their site. This depends on the rate of infilling, among other factors. As such I am unable to provide a prediction of the number of sites that will close year on year in the period 2009-20.
The Environment Agency has published the number of permitted operational landfill sites for the period 2005 to 2007 on its website. Prior to 2005, data on the number of landfill sites was included in the Environment Agency’s ‘Strategic Waste Management Information for England and Wales’. The following table provides a summary of the published data.
Region WML WML WML PPC WML PPC WML PPC PPC East of England — — 275 116 162 51 201 65 62 East Midlands — — 275 127 131 50 208 55 65 London — — 43 10 12 6 30 5 7 North East — — 371 46 95 21 120 26 28 North West — — 306 88 174 30 219 38 52 South East — — 435 158 172 60 293 59 83 South West — — 400 137 220 35 263 46 57 Wales — 162 n/a 66 73 25 160 29 34 West Midlands — — 269 60 131 24 164 30 43 Yorkshire and Humberside — — 520 201' 245 38 307 43 70 England and Wales 1,485 2,151 2,894 1,009 1,415 340 1,965 396 501 Note: WML is an abbreviation for “Waste Management Licence” and PPC for “Pollution Prevention and Control”.
In 1997 all landfill sites required a WML. From 2001 to 2007 all site operators had to apply for a PPC permit, replacing the WML.
The number of permitted landfill sites for 2008 is currently being validated and should be published in the autumn of 2009.
We do not hold information on the combined area of landfill sites.
The following tables show the amount of hazardous waste sent to landfill in each year where accurate information is available.
A new hazardous waste management system and database was introduced in July 2005 to coincide with the introduction of the new Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) regulations 2005. Changes in the way hazardous waste was classified and how data was collected caused inconstancies in data for 2005 and it was therefore not published.
East Midlands East of England London North East North West South East 1998-99 198,620.02 — 17,567.05 126,745.13 269,888.51 250,708.77 2000 140,493.62 487,629.71 29,463.20 113,682.67 324,279.74 245,221.40 2001 216,198.35 614,982.91 55,484.53 140,831.32 205,831.18 333,314.33 2002 150,701.20 582,250.52 20,509.22 79,381.46 255,360.38 193,601.90 2003 269,808.57 282,875.62 4,049.57 84,253.59 256,779.55 148,236.32 2004 433,513.61 278,377.14 83.83 104,371.63 392,307.95 192,220.67 2005 No data No data No data No data No data No data 2006 125,811.23 65,719.19 40,826.66 195,970.24 101,404.25 54,709.71 2007 154,949.14 68,877.55 50,071.87 132,187.43 116,644.22 62,800.07
South West Wales West Midlands Yorkshire and the Humber Total 1998-99 139,349.15 232,640.53 199,007.60 264,624.02 1,699,150.77 2000 128,977.11 134,590.44 161,892.50 274,992.14 2,041,222.53 2001 149,144.82 146,453.40 174,295.26 270,436.48 2,306,972.58 2002 165,283.90 85,611.96 206,433.08 247,253.50 1,986,387.12 2003 138,142.55 106,998.17 285,770.95 223,990.37 1,800,905.26 2004 118,783.68 230,123.31 228,686.41 315,701.47 2,294,169.70 2005 No data No data No data No data 0.00 2006 136,283.01 3,009.38 42,561.23 107,604.78 873,899.69 2007 133,247.32 662.85 54,074.70 75,706.63 849,221.79 Source: Environment Agency
In 1997 all landfill sites required a waste management licence. From 2001 to 2007 all site operators had to apply for a pollution prevention and control permit, replacing the WML.
The number of permitted landfill sites for 2008 is currently being validated and should be published in the autumn of 2009.
We do not hold information on the combined area of landfill sites.
The Waste and Emissions Trading (WET) Act provides for a fine to be imposed on a waste disposal authority for each additional tonne of biodegradable municipal waste that it sends to landfill above the number of allowances the authority holds under the landfill allowance trading scheme in a particular scheme year.
During the passage of the WET Act through Parliament, there was discussion about the destination of penalties. It was agreed that funds raised from penalties would be returned to all local authorities, including waste collection authorities, but would not be ring fenced to waste management options. It would therefore be for a local authority to decide for what purpose any returned funds were used.