Waste Recycling

Over recent years the UK has favoured landfill for getting rid of our rubbish and this has been possible because of our geology. Mineral extraction and quarrying left large holes in the ground which were restored by filling with waste. In addition, the underlying geology often provided naturally impermeable ground conditions, allowing us to bury our waste with less risk of liquids seeping out and polluting groundwater. The consequence of this was that  landfill was relatively cheap.

Of course this is not to suggest that landfills do not harm the environment or cause a nuisance. Poorly managed sites have resulted in polluted ground or surface waters and uncontrolled landfill gas generation. Without proper control, landfills can be a source of nuisance to neighbours as a result of, for example, odours, flies, litter or noise in the surrounding area.

There are other problems with landfilling which cannot be avoided by good site management and control. Many current landfill sites are nearly full and we are rapidly running out of suitable land, close to where the waste is produced, for new landfills. Most importantly, when we landfill our waste we are simply burying and losing our resources.

Waste going to landfill is now taxed. This is gradually reducing the perceived cost benefit of  landfilling our waste and providing funding for alternative waste management. In April 2004 the Landfill Tax rate for active waste increased by £1 to £15 per tonne. The Chancellor announced that the Landfill Tax for active waste would be increasing by a minimum of £3 per tonne from 2005-06, until it reaches a rate of £35 per tonne in the medium to long term; a rate which will bring the UK in line with other European countries.

Waste separation using trommel screens decreases the amount of solid waste going to landfill. Key benefits are

Allows recovery of recyclable material
Allows recovery of compostable waste.

Equipment Methods

Crushers
Balers
Chippers
Shredders