Key Requirements of the EC Landfill Directive

The EC Landfill Directive sets stringent requirements for the landfilling of wastes. The key requirements of the Directive are: • reduction in the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) to be landfilled; • classification of landfill sites into three categories: Inert, Hazardous and Non Hazardous; • banning of liquid wastes and certain other hazardous wastes and tyres from landfill and application of waste acceptance criteria for the various classes of landfill; • treatment of wastes prior to landfill, and • specific technical standards for landfill development control and monitoring, including location considerations. At present over 90% of Northern Ireland's waste goes to landfill. For the UK as a whole, the Directive requires reduction of the amount of BMW going to landfill to 35% of the 1995 levels by 2020. The classification of landfill sites, waste acceptance criteria and technical standards for landfill will affect all new landfill development proposals. In addition operators of existing sites will be required to complete conditioning plans to demonstrate compliance with the standards of the Landfill Directive. Sites that cannot realistically meet the required standards will be required to close.