How was the Landfill Allowances Scheme set up?
The law requires the Welsh Assembly to allocate allowances to waste disposal authorities. The landfill allowance for each waste disposal authority is based on the amount of BMW sent to landfill in 2001-02. A study commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government on the composition of municipal solid waste in Wales was published in December 2003. The study found that the overall biodegradable content of municipal solid waste in Wales is 61%. The scheme year for 2004-05 ran from 1 October 2004 until 31 March 2005 and now operates on an annual basis (1 April to 31 March). The LAS regulations impact on waste disposal authorities as they must each meet their individual allowances. Both waste disposal authorities and landfill operators are required to provide information to ensure the allowances have been met. The Environment Agency was designated as the monitoring authority for the scheme.
