Key Issues and Delivering the Change Required

• Assuming no change to current waste management practice, the East Midlands will run out of landfill facilities in between 8 and 11 years.

• Assuming recovery and recycling targets as set out in this strategy are achieved and successful waste minimisation measures are employed, total waste arisings are expected to increase from an estimated 25.6 million tonnes in 2004 to at least 27.8 million tonnes by 2020. Failure to deliver this strategy could result in total waste arisings increasing to as much as 39.4 million tonnes per annum.
  

• In 2003, commercial and industrial waste made up 40% of the controlled waste produced in the region, and 48% was construction and demolition waste. Municipal waste made up only 12% of the controlled waste stream.

• In 2003, East Midlands was ranked 49th out of the 78 EU regions in terms of waste produced and energy used per unit Gross Value Added (GVA).Of the UK regions, the East Midlands Ranked 7th of 9.

• Meeting the requirements of the Landfill Directive will require a dramatic reduction in the quantity of biodegradeable waste – particularly Municipal Solid Wastes, sent to landfill as a proportion of the total waste landfilled.This, in turn, requires that  significant alternative waste management infrastructure needs to be created.

• It is estimated that the Region has the capacity to treat or dispose of approximately 17.8 million tonnes of controlled waste per annum, suggesting that the Region is a net exporter of waste at present. However some wastes streams – in particular hazardous wastes, are increasingly being imported to the Region.

• The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) has set out the principles for waste management in the region, based on reducing the growth in waste arisings, exceeding Government targets for recycling and composting and taking a flexible approach to other forms of waste recovery.

• Achievement of the policies as set out in RSS8 will require progressive waste prevention and minimisation, together with the rapid development of waste recovery/ treatment infrastructure, creating a total waste recovery/treatment and disposal capacity for controlled wastes of at least 22 million tonnes per annum by 2020.This should ensure that Regional self-sufficiency in waste management is achieved.

• The cost of waste treatment/disposal in the region is currently estimated to be of the order of £400 million to £500 million per annum. A conservative estimate suggests this total could increase to over £1 billion (excluding inflation) by 2020 - assuming targets are achieved.

The Principles and Priorities of the Regional Waste Strategy – delivering the change required

Regional Priorities for Waste Management (Policy 39 RSS):

Policy 38 of the Regional Spatial Strategy sets out the principles of the waste strategy.These principles aim to represent the Best Practicable Environment Option for waste management for the East Midlands Region:

1. Working towards zero growth in waste at the regional level by 2016
2. Reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill in accordance with the EU landfill Directive
3. Exceeding Government targets for recycling and composting, with the objective to bring all parts of the Region up to the levels of current best practice
4. Taking a flexible approach to other forms of waste recovery, on the basis that technology in this area is developing very quickly and is difficult to predict over a 20 year period.

Policy 39 sets out the priorities for the Regional Waste Strategy:

Regional Priorities for Waste Management (Policy 39 RSS):

• Local Authorities, national, regional and local bodies should promote a package of policies and proposals that will result in zero growth in all forms of controlled waste by 2016.

• All Waste Collection Authorities and Waste Disposal Authorities should achieve a minimum target for the recycling and composting of MSW of
  • 25% by 2005
  • 30% by 2010
  • 50% by 2015

• Waste Local Plans should include policies and proposals to promote sustainable waste management by the development of the additional waste management capacity.

These aims and objectives must be framed against the numerous other statutory and aspirational targets relating to waste management which have been set out in both National and Regional strategies.

The Priority Issue pages set out the priority areas that must now be addressed to ensure the East Midlands Region achieves the aims and objectives set out above. Each of these issues should not be considered in isolation as there is considerable overlap. However, when considered as a whole, the topics and policies areas aim to provide a robust, structured framework for delivery of the strategic aims and objectives.