Monday 21st March 2011
A brief history of landfill tax
All you need to know about landfill tax in two (and a half) easy paragraphs!
Landfill tax was introduced by the government in 1996 as a way to help the UK meet its obligations under the 1999 EU Landfill Directive, the idea being that making disposal of landfill more expensive would make other, more environmentally responsible waste treatment options more attractive.
Landfill tax is paid by landfill owners and charged on to customers as part of their gate fee. What was initially a £7 per tonne tax for active waste (such as wood, plastics, food and paper) was increased steadily until 2007 when it reached £24. In 2008 it was increased to £32 per tonne and from then onwards it has increased by £8 per tonne every year and will continue to do so until 2014 when it reaches £80. It is unknown whether it will continue to rise thereon in but the current government has stated that £80 per tonne is a floor not a ceiling. Whilst the amount of waste sent to landfill in the UK has decreased since the introduction of landfill tax, landfill space in the UK is still expected to run out by 2018 unless recycling is increased and the amount we send to landfill reduces more significantly.
Inactive, otherwise known as inert, waste such as concrete, bricks and soil is taxed at £2.50 per tonne and this will not increase this April.