|
With incineration and landfill charges remaining high, a
WRAP report confirms that recycling should be the first option
for local authorities to look at in dealing with waste.
The third annual Gate Fees Report from WRAP underlines the
financial and environmental benefits of recycling or composting
wastes wherever possible.
The report presents a summary of gate fees charged for a
range of alternative waste treatment, recovery and disposal
options - together with an analysis of the factors likely
to influence future gate fees and comparison with last year’s
report.
One clear trend to emerge from this year’s survey is the
impact of the landfill tax escalator, which will continue
to make landfill more expensive compared with other options. Respondents
to the survey suggested that, as the UK pulls out of the recession,
the cost of borrowing reduces and more capacity becomes available,
gate fees may fall for some facilities. However, this reduction
is unlikely to be passed on to local authorities until they
retender their contracts.
Some respondents suggested that falling gate fees at MRFs
could encourage greater focus on the quality of materials
to increase the value recovered from the market. However,
other survey respondents noted that higher landfill tax, alongside
higher regulatory costs, may work to increase fees across
a range of treatment options,
Phillip Ward, Director of Local Government Services at WRAP
said - “Now entering its third year, the gate fees report
gives an up-to-date snapshot of the waste management industry
and its charges. The report again highlights that recycling
is still generally the cheapest option as well as being better
for the environment.
“The way in which waste is collected, treated and disposed
of continues to change rapidly. If this does signal a new
focus on improved quality from material recovery facilities,
that will be welcomed by reprocessors.”
This report is produced to raise price transparency and,
through improving the flow of information, enhance the efficiency
with which the waste management market operates. A lack
of market information may reduce a local authority’s ability
to make informed decisions on waste management options in
terms of both economic and environmental costs. Indicative
gate fee information should assist them in making better informed
decisions regarding waste management options.
To view the report - Click
Here
|
