Diverting Biodegradable Waste from Landfill

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This policy area involves assessing the feasibility of potential bans or restrictions on biodegradable waste being disposed of in landfill sites in Northern Ireland.

The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) sets a target that at least 70% of waste is recycled and also that DAERA seeks the advice of the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) on the setting of emissions reductions targets.
The CCC recommended a ban on key biodegradable wastes, across municipal and non-municipal sectors and stated that such a ban would require waste prevention, re-use and recycling efforts (including AD and composting) to be significantly ramped-up and should not be met by increased waste exports or a significant increase in EfW emissions.

The Waste and Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997 (WCLO) introduced a 10% cap on the amount of waste going to landfill by 2035 and the Waste (Circular Economy) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 states that DAERA’s waste management plan must contain measures to encourage the recycling, including composting and digestion, of bio-waste.

Type of Change

Statutory.

Affected Stakeholders

  • Householders, businesses, or organisations that produce biodegradable waste.
  • Landfill site operators.
  • Waste management organisations.
  • Waste reprocessors.
  • Local authorities.

Changes

  • The CCC estimated that a ban would decrease the tonnage of biogenic material entering landfill by at least 85% by 2025 from 2018 levels across the UK. 
  • In Northern Ireland, the NILAS scheme, along with the Food Waste Regulations resulted in a reduction in the landfill of Biodegradable Local Authority Collected Municipal Waste from 252 kilotonnes in 2013/14 to 122 kt in 2022/23.
  • Modelling carried out by WRAP suggests that approximately 233kt of Biodegradable Waste from both Household and Non-Household sources was sent to landfill in 2022.
  • WRAP’s modelling suggested a range of measures to enhance recycling along with an outright ban could result in reductions from 233kt to as low as 16kt, however this could be challenging to enforce and would see a significant fraction sent to EfW.  This would negate the emissions savings, increase air pollution, and go against the CCC recommendations.
  • WRAPs Economic Impact Assessment indicates that a “restriction” along with measures to enhance recycling would be the most economical option.  This could reduce the fraction of biodegradable waste going to landfill to 76 kt and reduce emissions from landfill by up to 139kt Co2e.

Status

In July 2023 DAERA established a Biodegradable Waste to Landfill Advisory Group to work alongside WRAP in conducting a feasibility study.  Throughout 2023, a series of meetings were held, broadly in line with work packages agreed between DAERA and WRAP and in February 2024, WRAP presented their findings and outline proposals to the group.

The findings and outline proposals are currently being reviewed and assessed by DAERA with a view to commencing drafting a Public Consultation in April 2024, subject to the necessary approvals. 

The recently launched “Rethinking our Resources” consultation includes several proposals which would enhance the separate collection and recycling of biodegradable waste.  DAERA will carefully consider the feedback from this consultation where it impacts the development of the policy of diverting biodegradable waste from landfill.

Expected Timeline

For the purpose of the modelling, an implementation date of 2028 was set to align with other waste policy developments with a phase in from 2026.

DAERA may commence drafting a Public Consultation in April 2024, subject to the necessary approvals. 

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