Disposing of Waste

Disposing of waste at landfill sites or incinerating it without energy recovery are the least sustainable waste management options and you should only use them as a last resort.

Landfilling waste

Some types of waste are banned from landfill sites, including:

• corrosive, explosive, oxidising, flammable or infectious wastes
• tyres
• liquid wastes
• wastes with more than 6 per cent total organic content
• automotive and industrial batteries
• animal by-products, such as agricultural carcasses and uncooked meat products.

For most types of waste, landfill tax is £91.35 a tonne.Landfill tax for some inert or inactive wastes is £2.90 per tonne. Waste contractors pass on these rising costs to the waste producer.

You must pre-treat waste before you send it to landfill. You also have a duty to ensure that your waste is disposed of legally. If you dump waste illegally, you could be fined or even sent to prison.

Duty of Care - your waste responsibilities

You can use the NetRegs e-learning tools to get a good overview of key issues. These tools are free to use and cover the essential points of each topic. They might be useful as a refresher course, or to make sure that staff have a good understanding of their environmental responsibilities.

• Preventing pollution – a general guide
• Duty of care
• Sinks, drains and sewers
• WEEE
• Generating renewable energy

All are available at: NetRegs e-learning tools

Incinerating waste

If you send waste for incineration, make sure you use an operator authorised to accept your waste. If you incinerate waste on your premises, you must have appropriate authorisation from your environmental regulator.

Waste incineration

Further information

The NIEA has produced a guidance that explains the reuse of materials, and when waste legislation does not apply.

NIEA: Regulatory Position Statement – Reuse of Material

Find your nearest waste site

SEPA: Encourage your customers to recycle

Return to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle landing page