ImplementationBest Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO)

The BPEO procedure established the waste management method, or mix of methods, that provides the most benefits or the least damage to the environment as a whole, at acceptable cost, in the long term as well as in the short term.

Biological Treatment

Any biological process that changes the properties of waste (e.g. anaerobic digestion, composting)

Bring Recycling

Recycling schemes where the public bring material for recycling to collection points, e.g. bottle and can banks at supermarket car parks and civic amenity sites

Civic Amenity Sites (CA sites)

Sites, provided by local authorities, which the public can bring household waste. CA sites usually provide facilities for recycling, garden waste and bulky items such as beds and cookers

Clinical Waste

Healthcare waste such as blood, tissue, needles, used dressings, drugs, etc. It may be produced from healthcare facilities, like hospitals, or else from home treatment

Co-firing

The thermal treatment of waste at plants that also use other sources of energy (e.g. coal or wood chip power stations)

Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

A fuel efficient technology which produces electricity and heat from a thermal treatment process

Commercial Waste

Waste arising from premises used wholly or mainly for trade, sport, recreation or entertainment

Composting

The process that converts biodegradable material (such as garden and kitchen waste), in the presence of oxygen in the air, into a stable granular material

Construction and demolition waste

Waste produced from the construction, repair, maintenance and demolition of buildings and structures, including roads. It consists mostly of brick, hardcore and soil

Controlled Waste

This is household, industrial and commercial waste as defined in the Controlled Waste Regulations

EU Directive

A European Union legal instruction, binding on all Member States and which must be implemented through national legislation within a prescribed timescale

Energy from Waste (EfW)

The recovery of energy in the form or heat and/or power from waste, through thermal or combustion
processes

ELV – End of Life Vehicle

A vehicle which is waste within the meaning of Article 1 of the Waste Framework Directive

Fines

Small particles waste, such as dust

Gasification

This process involves turning waste into a fuel by heating it under controlled conditions with oxygen present

Hazardous Waste

Defined by EU legislation as the most harmful wastes to people and the environment

Household Waste

This includes refuse from household collection rounds,waste from street sweeping and public litter bins, bulky items collected from households,waste taken to CA sites and waste collected separately for recycling or composting or taken to recycling bring sites

Industrial Waste

Waste from any factory or industrial process (excluding mines and quarries)

Inert Waste

Chemically inert, non-combustible, non-biodegradable and non-leaching waste

Kerbside Recycling

Collection of recyclable or compostable wastes usually from the pavement outside premises, most commonly from households but also from businesses

Landfill sites

Licensed facilities where waste is permanently deposited for disposal

Landspreading

Recovering value from certain types of waste, such as sewage sludge and brewing waste, by spreading it onto land to improve soil quality

Materials Recycling Facility (MRF)

A facility for sorting and baling recyclable waste

Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT)

This is the treatment of waste using a combination of mechanical separation, grading and biological treatment

Municipal Solid Waste

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)  is that collected from households, plus other waste which because of its nature or composition is similar to household waste – this generally includes waste from some commercial premises such as shops or offices which may be collected by Council waste collection services, plus waste from schools some other public institutions

PPS

Planning Policy Statement – Guidance issued by the government on various aspects of the land-use planning system

Producer Responsibility

Requires industry and commerce involved in the manufacture, distribution and sale of particular goods to take greater responsibility for the disposal, recycling or recovery of those goods at the end of their useful life

Proximity principle

The principle that waste should be treated or disposed of as close as practicable to its place of origin

Putrescibles

Organic waste susceptible to the decay or breakdown by bacterial action

Pyrolysis

This process involves heating waste in the absence of oxygen to produce energy rich gas, oils and solid char (ash)

Recycling

Reprocessing of wastes, either into the same material or a different material

Reduction

Reducing the quantity of waste produced

Regional self sufficiency

The aim that a region should make provision for the treatment or disposal of all the waste arising in its area

Residual Waste

Waste remaining after materials for reuse, recycling and composting have been removed. Also includes waste materials resulting from intermediate processes such as MBT which require further processing or disposal.

Re-use

Using materials or products again, for the same or a different purpose, without material reprocessing

RSS

Regional Spatial Strategy – the landuse planning strategy for the Region produced by the Regional Planning Board. County and District planning strategies must now align with the RSS – including Waste Development Frameworks.

Treatment

Waste treatment can include activities such as physical, chemical and biological processes which change the characteristics of waste in order to reduce its volume, nature, facilitate handling or enhance recovery

Waste Management Licensing

The system of permits operated by the Environment Agency under the Environmental Protection Act to ensure that activities authorised to recover or dispose of waste are carried out in a way that protects the environment and human health

Waste Transfer Station

A waste management facility to which waste is taken for sorting or baling before being removed for recovery or disposal

Glossary of Organisations and Initiatives

Business Link

A network of County-based organisations, providing advice to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) aiming to ensure business creation, survival and growth

CBI – Confederation of British Industries

A body representing the interests of British industry aiming to help create and sustain conditions in whih the UK can compete and prosper

EMRCE

East Midlands Regional Centre for Procurement Excellence – a new Regional initiative based at Nottinghamshire County Council seeking to promote best practice in public sector procurement

EMBREN

East Midlands Business Resource Efficiency Network – See Case Study, Priority Issue 2

emda

East Midlands Development Agency – the body responsible for economic development of the East Midlands Region, aiming to make the Region economically one of the top 20 in Europe by 2010

EMRA

East Midlands Regional Assembly – the non-elected, strategic partnership body responsible for scrutiny of EMDA, Regional Policy development and Regional Planning matters

Environment Agency

The non–departmental Government body responsible for protection and improvement of the environment

ESA – Environmental Services Association

The trade body representing the Waste Management Industry

Envirowise

Envirowise delivers a government funded programme of free confidential advice to UK businesses to help them to become more profitable and reduce their environmental impact. Envirowise is funded across the UK by the DTI and Defra and the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) Programme in England, the Scottish Executive in Scotland and the Materials Action Programme (MAP) in Wales

GOEM – Government Office for the East Midlands

The Regional Office of Central Government, ensuring that Government initiatives are delivered within the Region and reflecting back the needs of the Region to Central Government

ODPM - Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Central Government department responsible for local and regional government, housing, planning, fire, regeneration, social exclusion and neighbourhood renewal

OGC - Office of Government Commerce

An independent office of the Treasury responsible for a wide ranging programme focussing on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Central civil Govt procurement

RTAB – Regional Technical Advisory Body (on waste)

A working group of regional stakeholders required by Planning Policy Statement 10. In the East Midlands the RTAB reports to the Regional Planning Board, with the aim of providing regional coordination of waste management planning and ensuring that the Region is in a position to plan and provide sufficient waste management capacity to meet current and future needs

UAs

Unitary Authorities. In terms of waste  management, these authorities function as WCA and WDA

WPA – Waste Planning Authority

County Council or Unitary Authority Planning Departments responsible for the production and application of Waste Local Plans (to become Waste Development Frameworks)

WCA - Waste Collection Authority

A local authority (a district, borough or unitary) responsible for the collection of household waste in its area

WDA - Waste Disposal Authority

A local authority (a county or unitary) responsible for the management of the household waste collected in its area

WIP

Waste Implementation Programme - A DEFRA initiative (linked to WRAP) to deliver the requirements of the 2002 Government Strategy Unit report “Waste Not Want Not”.The WIP programme delivers a suite of projects to ensure that the UK achieves the required step-change in waste management practice

WRAP

Waste & Resources Action Programme – A Government funded programme with the objective of accelerating resource efficiency by creating efficient markets for recycled materials and products and removing barriers to waste minimisation, recovery and recycling