RTPI Cymru conference

2050 zero waste target set for Wales

Claire Stephenson and Elizabeth Mellett report on Brian Maynes Delivering Waste Infrastructure seminar, one of several presented at Junes annual RTPI Cymru Planning Conference
Brian Mayne, technical director at Hyder, considered the issues surrounding waste management in Wales, together with the requirements and potential solutions to a problem that is becoming increasingly important. He said that with traditional landfill sites either at or nearing capacity, increasing environmental controversy and local opposition to the opening of new landfill sites, it is essential that alternative waste management options are considered in accordance with the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle. Framework directive gives clear goals Specific objectives and targets to reduce waste are set out in the EU Waste Framework Directive and the Landfill Directive. Wise about Waste translates this to the national level and provides the current national waste strategy for Wales. Consultation on a new waste strategy, Wales Towards Zero Waste; One Wales: One Planet ended on 22 July and seeks to build on the report by setting out a longer-term framework for waste management in Wales. Further national guidance is provided by Technical Advice Note 21. These documents promote the key principles of reduction, reuse and recycling as the favoured options. Disposal is the least preferred option, followed by other types of recovery such as energy recovery. To implement EU directives, Welsh councils have set tough targets to divert waste from landfill and increase recycling and composting as set out in the Landfill Allowances Scheme (Wales) Regulations 2004. Welsh local authorities have established targets to achieve 40 per cent recycling and composting of municipal waste by 2010, rising to 70 per cent by 2025 and zero waste by 2050. These ambitious targets are not merely guidelines. As Mayne pointed out, local authorities have a further incentive to meet the targets; financial penalties. With fines currently set at 200 per tonne of biodegradable municipal waste not diverted from landfill, this could equate to an average fine of up to 6 million per local authority area.
14 waste planning issue 76 / august 2009

If landfill is no longer an option, what alternatives does Wales have? In order to meet its obligations under the EU Landfill Directive as set out in Wise About Waste, the Welsh Local Government Association told the Environment, Planning and Countryside Comittee in 2007 that Wales will need over 650 new waste management facilities by 2013. There are currently only 250 facilities in operation in Wales. To some this may seem an unachievable goal. However, Mayne proposed solutions such as the development of new waste facilities across Wales which will address the need to divert waste from landfill and an increase in recycling and composting and providing treatment facilities for the remaining residual waste. He felt that each waste region should be self-sufficient in

dealing with its own waste and waste should be managed close to its source. He also backed cleaner, more resourceful ways used to deal with waste rather than sending it to landfill. Planning is a central component of securing the delivery of new waste facilities. TAN21 facilitates the introduction of a comprehensive, integrated and sustainable land use planning framework for waste management and creates three regional waste areas that have responsibility for producing regional waste plans (RWPs). It is vital that RWPs and Municipal Waste Management Plans produced by local authorities ensure a comprehensive and integrated plan-led system is achieved which enables the delivery of new waste management facilities. Sites must be found early for facilities Planning for waste is vital to ensure that appropriate sites are identified and associated facilities and infrastructure are designed and operated to appropriate standards and efficiency. Sites should be identified as early as possible to enable them to be progressed through emerging local development plans. Securing a site allocation should ease the planning process and also opens channels of communication with local residents and stakeholders to address and overcome any issues prior to a planning application being submitted. While not popular, there is still a need to continue to provide adequate landfill capacity for the disposal of residues after treatment. Delivering the 650 new waste management facilities needed by 2013 is a challenging proposition. However, there are new developments coming forward. Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners has been working on proposals throughout the UK including the UKs first nuclear waste recycling plant in Cumbria. It is currently working on behalf of Plastics Sorting Ltd to co-ordinate and prepare a planning application for an anaerobic biomass digester and plastics recycling unit in Ebbw Vale, South Wales.n Claire Stephenson, associate director and Elizabeth Mellett, senior planner at Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners, Cardiff.
wasteplanning.co.uk

Minister announces additional funds to support local planning services

Welsh environment minister Jane Davidson announced a review of the planning application process in Wales at the conference. I want to see improvements to streamline the planning application process. We want to make sure the planning system is ready to support the economic upturn when it comes. Our evidence shows that 85 to 90 per cent of applications are in fact approved. However, our review will look to identify any blockages and potential areas of improvement, she said. The minister also announced an extra 1.75 million of support for local planning authorities to be distributed equally among all 25 local planning authorities in Wales. Each planning authority will receive 70,000 to support local improvements in delivery of their planning service, while a further 250,000 will support cross-Wales activity. Roisin Willmott, national director at RTPI Cymru, welcomed the review. Currently there are too many minor applications washing across the desks of hard-pressed Welsh planners which dont need to be there. So we would like to see the review investigate how permitted development can be extended to create a faster and more user-friendly planning process, she said.