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| An Introduction to the Regulations which are Driving the Diversion of Biological Waste (BMW) away from Landfills throughout Europe by Waste Associates: The Waste Revolution Web Site Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is waste collected by or on behalf of the local authority. It comprises mostly household waste and it may include some commercial and industrial wastes. The quantity of Municipal Solid Waste is currently increasing year on year, and is a growing problem for local authorities particularly as new legislation which limits the amount of mixed MSW that can be sent to landfill comes into effect. At present more than 75% of all MSW generated in England is disposed of in landfills. The aim of this guide is to introduce alternative options for the management of MSW which do not rely solely on landfill. Some of these options are already established practice in the UK or overseas. Others are yet to be commercially tested in the UK for municipal waste management. Further details about the new technologies featured in this report are available from the Waste UK Wastewise Technology Data Centre. The most significant challenge facing the management of Municipal Solid Waste is how to divert the biodegradable component of MSW (known as BMW)away from landfills. Measures have been set in place (see below) to reduce the amount of this biodegradable material allowed to be sent for disposal in landfills. What is BMW? Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW) is the fraction that will break down, either in the presence of air or under anaerobic conditions (such as that within a landfill, where oxygen is absent). The types of materials that comprise this Biodegradable Municipal Waste include: kitchen wastes, green or garden wastes, paper, card, cork, and even some textiles. The materials that comprise BMW include garden waste, kitchen waste, general household sweepings,soil, paper/board, wood, textiles. Why seek alternatives to landfill? The EC Landfill Directive is the legislation driving the need to divert BMW from landfill. The various EU governments each issued their own national Waste Regulations, in response to the European Commission (EC) Landfill Directive published in 1999. The rationale for the need to reduce the levels of biodegradable materials going to landfill is based on concerns over greenhouse gas emissions and the threat of global warming. The decomposition of biodegradable materials within landfill sites results in the production and escape of methane. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, emissions of which have to be reduced. The Landfill Directive is one measure designed to reduce the quantities of methane produced from landfills by targeting a reduction in the quantities of BMW disposed of in this way. Within the Landfill Directive the following targets have been set: BMW levels allowed to landfill* are as follows:- 75% of 1995 quantities:Target year for UK 2010 50% of 1995 quantities:Target year for UK 2013 35% of 1995 quantities:Target year for UK 2020 This is a "waste revolution", and will cost billions of pounds of investment to achieve. Source: "Waste Not, Want Not" 2002 report. * The target years highlighted includes the 4 year derogation open to the UK and other a Member States who were landfilling more than 80% of its MSW in 1995. This article courtesy of http://www.waste-technologies.co.uk. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact. |
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