Wise About Waste (Welsh Assembly Strategy - Meeting Landfill and Recycling Targets in Wales)

The ' Wise about Waste' strategy includes a range of targets aimed at improving waste management performance in Wales. These will contribute towards the Assembly meeting its share of the UK’s obligations under Article 5 of the Landfill Directive, which requires EU Member States to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) that is sent to landfill. To view or download the Wise About Waste Strategy click here At the time Wise about Waste was published (2002), the recycling rate for municipal waste in Wales was 8%; recent figures for 2002-3 show the rate has increased to 13%. However, the volume of municipal waste in Wales is currently increasing by about 4% per annum. To view or download the Wise About Waste Strategy click here Meeting the 2006-07 target of recycling and composting 25% of municipal waste is a commitment identified in the Welsh Assembly Government’s strategic policy document, Wales: A Better Country. WISE ABOUT WASTE RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING TARGETS Wise about Waste sets minimum recycling and composting targets for each local authority to deliver (they are not statutory): by 2003-04 achieve at least 15% recycling/composting of municipal waste with a minimum of 5% composting (with only compost derived from source segregated materials counting) and 5% recycling; by 2006-07 achieve at least 25% recycling/composting of municipal waste with a minimum of 10% composting (with only compost derived from source segregated materials counting) and 10% recycling; by 2009-10 and beyond achieve at least 40% recycling/composting with a minimum of 15% composting (with only compost derived from source segregated materials counting) and 15% recycling. Meeting the 2009-10 target will contribute towards the Assembly meeting its share of the UK’s 2010 obligations under Article 5 of Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste (the Landfill Directive). The aim of Article 5 of the Landfill Directive is to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) that is sent to landfill. Each EU Member State must reduce the amount as follows: by 2006, to 75% (by weight) of the amount produced by that State in 1995; by 2009, to 50% (by weight) of the amount produced by that State in 1995; by 2016, to 35% (by weight) of the amount produced by that State in 1995. The UK is taking advantage of an additional four years to meet each target, available for Member States that landfilled more than 80% of their collected municipal waste in 1995. The requirement for the UK to meet these targets has been transposed into UK law through the Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003 and obligations for Wales will be delivered through The Landfill Allowances Scheme (Wales) Regulations 2004.