Commercial and Industrial Waste Survey 2003
Lead Researchers: Lori Frater – Project Manager,
Jeroen Dijkshoorn – Project Assistant
Background
Over the last decade, waste has become a major area of concern for government departments, policy makers and regulators. Due to previous, current and proposed legislation from the European Council, the United Kingdom must alter the way it manages waste. Businesses, throughout the United Kingdom, in response to new legislation and policy targets will be required to reconsider their waste management systems and implement strategies that reflect the waste hierarchy.
Current practices depend on an over-reliance on landfill as the prime means of waste disposal, yet void landfill capacity is decreasing and commercial and municipal waste are increasing at approximately 3% per year. New methods of reducing, re-using and recycling waste are required if the reliance on landfill is to change. Business, waste management companies, policy makers and regulators need to have a clearer understanding of how much waste is produced, what happens to it and how much it costs. This information is required to plan for better waste management facilities in order to divert wastes away from landfill.
In 2003, BRASS was awarded funding from the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme operated by Biffaward to conduct the Wales Commercial and Industrial Waste Arisings Survey in partnership with Environment Agency Wales, who are also project funders. The purpose of the survey is to provide much needed waste production and disposal data to assist policy makers formulate policies and the regulator to undertake strategic planning. From June 2003 until February 2004, 13 waste surveyors visited over 2,000 companies throughout Wales, thereby representing the largest commercial and industrial waste survey conducted in Wales to date. A broad spectrum of commercial and industrial sectors was identified from small, medium and large-scale companies and organisation. Particular sectors identified were those with a strong impact on the Welsh economy, this included both light and heavy manufacturing, food, leisure and tourism and even public sector departments and organisations.
