Response to consultation on biodegradable waste to landfill published

The government has issued a response to a consultation on the near elimination of biodegradable waste in landfills, which closed in July 2023.

The aim of the consultation was to seek views, data and evidence to support the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to develop policies that will achieve the near elimination of biodegradable waste disposal in landfills from 2008.

It was to help DEFRA to understand:

• the composition of waste going to landfill;
• why some biodegradable waste continues to go to landfill;
• your views on how DEFRA can best achieve their aim.

The consultation outcome does not set out new government policies or commitments but does indicate some of what DEFRA intends to explore.

On reflection of the responses received, DEFRA's aims include:

• expanding the list of separately collected wastes that are prohibited from disposal at landfill, or incineration, without some form of treatment process, to include all five Climate Change Committee recommended materials:
  • paper and card,
  • food,
  • garden waste,
  • textiles and wood;
• determining how we can stop wood waste being sent to landfill, including as part of a mixed waste;
• extending the focus to all biodegradable wastes, such as municipal and non-municipal at the same time.

DEFRA will begin informal stakeholder engagement shortly and hopes to consult on detailed policies this year. This is however dependent on detailed policy development and continued stakeholder engagement.

Policy development will include consideration of other related policies and associated timings, including the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to waste incineration and energy from waste (EfW).

A total of 62 responses were received.

For more information on this subject, see:

• Near elimination of biodegradable waste to landfill;
• Consultation outcome.