Why are we changing the way we deal with our waste?
The Councils are seeking to significantly improve the sustainability of their waste management service and secure an affordable long term solution for their waste.
The Waste Policy Review of 2011 requires local authorities to improve their waste management by boosting recycling, composting and value recovery from waste. Policies are aimed at reducing reliance on landfill and minimising greenhouse gases produced from our waste.
Current Government policies include the following:
- Increasing the tax payable on land filled waste each year. The current floor is £80 per tonne which will be reached in 2014.
- Encouraging at least a 50% recycling and composting rate for household waste by 2020.
Therefore, to avoid severe financial penalties, which would impact on Council Tax, and to address environmental concerns, new more sustainable ways of dealing with our waste are needed.
Where will the new waste treatment facility be built?
Bradford Council undertook a comprehensive search for sites across the district which identified a 4.3 hectare site on Bowling Back Lane which currently houses a waste transfer station and household waste recycling centre as the most suitable site. It is ideally located near the city centre with good transport links around the district and to Calderdale and within close proximity to the M62.
