How we decide what to do with our waste
There are some important requirements that affect how we decide what to do with our waste. The main ones are:
The Waste Local Plan
The Waste Planning Authority, which is made up of East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council, prepares policies and proposals for waste management. These include the County Structure Plan and Waste Local Plan. The authority maintains and enforces development control through its decisions on planning applications for waste operations.
The Waste Local Plan sets out a strategy for future waste management and planning in East Sussex and Brighton & Hove. It encourages a shift away from waste disposal towards more sustainable methods of treating waste.
European and UK laws
The European Landfill Directive says that the amount of biodegradable waste (waste that will rot down) that is sent to landfill must be reduced. As a result of the landfill directive, the Waste Emissions Trading Act also became law in the UK.
The tax on landfill has continued to rise. The cost has lead to large increases in our waste disposal costs.
The Environment Agency
The Environment Agency regulates waste management through a system of licences.
They register and monitor people who transport waste and must be told beforehand if anyone moves potentially hazardous waste (special waste).
They advise on waste management methods, including waste minimisation, and work closely with other organisations to tackle specific issues such as fly-tipping.
Most waste disposal and recycling sites are operated by private companies. The Environment Agency regulates the operators of these sites to ensure they don’t pollute the environment or harm the public.
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