EU landfill diversion targets set a shadow over Birmingham

• Mar. 24 by Ben Harrow (0)

With the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs setting the targets for landfill diversion across the UK this week, Birmingham’s recycling efforts have come under scrutiny.

Commercial and industrial waste is now included in the Landfill Diversion Target, which outlines the amount of waste that can be sent to landfill each year.

The changes have been implemented across the European Union, and all the countries now have an easier to reach target, but one that will still bring a great challenge.

England should only send 21,773 tonnes of biodegradable waste to landfill across 2010, and this amount should fall to 17,844 in 2013.

The furthest set target, reaching way ahead to 2020, outlines 12,491 tonnes for the whole year.

However, recent recycling figures across the UK are shedding some light onto how difficult these targets may be, especially when recycling rates across the board are so low.

Last year, Birmingham diverted over one million tonnes of waste from landfill, but outlined nothing of how much it still sent to landfill each year.

Assuming that the 32% recycling rate across Birmingham quoted in the Birminghamnewsroom is correct, over two million tonnes of waste is still sent to landfill each year.

If only 21,773 is to be sent to landfill each year, then the two million Birmingham contributes is a worrying sign.

Cllr Gregory, quoted in the Birmingham news room, said:

‘Today’s figures clearly show the hard work of recent years is paying off. We are getting better at recycling; meaning the amount of waste we send to landfill is reducing.’