Landfill sites are areas of land in which waste is deposited. Landfill sites are often located in disused quarries or mines. A landfill is a carefully designed structure built into or on top of the ground in which rubbish is isolated from the surrounding environment. Landfills are not designed to breakdown waste, just to bury it. Waste is compacted into a thin layer and covered with soil.

Landfill sites are monitored on a regular basis to make sure that they are being run efficiently and safely. The responsibility for monitoring and issuing operational licences lies with the Environmental Protection Agency. Only licensed operators are permitted to operate landfill sites..

London has 18 operational landfill sites (none in Waltham Forest) and as such the continued landfilling of the majority of London’s waste is not sustainable. London’s capacity for waste disposal by landfill s limited. The waste produced by Waltham Forest is incinerated at the Edmonton Solid Waste Incineration Plant. This plant is managed by the North London Waste Authority (NLWA). The NLWA is responsible for the disposal of waste produced seven London boroughs; Waltham Forest, Haringey, Hackney, Islington, Barnet, Camden and Enfield.

http://www.nlondon-waste.gov.uk/ (external)

The UK faces European Union (EU) targets to reduce the amount of waste landfilled. An essential part of achieving the reduction targets is the drive towards more household waste recycling. and composting. This is reflected in The Mayor's Municipal Waste Management Strategy.
http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/waste/index.jsp (external)

Landfill allowance trading scheme and landfill tax

Putting waste into landfill costs money both in terms of landfill tax (currently £24.00 per tonne) and a disposal fee.

The UK's Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS), part of the Waste Emissions and Trading Act, is part of the UK government's response to the EU Landfill Directive 1999.  The EU directive requires member states to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfill by 25% by 2010, 50% by 2013 and 75% by 2020 compared to 1995 tonnages.

Under LATS, there are set allowances for the amount of biodegradable municipal waste we can send to landfill each year until 2020.

Contact us

Public Realm
Environment and Regeneration
Low Hall
Argall Avenue
London E10 7AS
email wfdirect@walthamforest.gov.uk
tel 020 8496 3000