Irish Warn That They May be Unable to Meet Tough New Landfill Diversion Targets Which the Scottish Will Beat and Exceed
Throughout Europe the public dislikes landfill so much that they are willing to pay a hefty premium on their rates bill for expensive (but green, and environmentally positive) recycling, and the European Union saw this campaign and has taken it further by issuing a Directive throughout all member states, including new accession states, that organic waste, that is all waste known as BMW (Biological Municipal Waste) being sent to landfill must be reduced substantially. After all, it is this waste which causes odours, and as it rots and decomposes in landfills, causes the greatest risk to the environment.
Now, on this subject there have been two completely opposite pieces of news with the last few days.
That is while in Ireland there are now serious concerns that their policy will be ineffective and in 2010 the Irish will fail to meet the target for landfill diversion, the opposite is true in Scotalnd where they find diversion and recycling easy.
But the problem is that in Ireland the amount they sent to landfill last year actual still continued to rise – despite all their recycling efforts.
In Scotland they announced that not content with their own success, they will now go better than the EU requirements, and aim for a zero waste (to landfill) policy.
But, across the Irish sea all is so different and the Irish politicans really do have to get their landfill and recycling policy sorted out. Financial restraints alone are not going to be enough to reduce landfilling. Charges for landfilling waste are already extremely high.
Failure to comply with the EU Directive would mean that Ireland would be charged a heavy fine by the EU Parliament.
On the other hand the Scots must surely be applauded for their environmental awareness and commitment to keep their beautiful country clean, and as landfill waste free as possible. For more about the politics of waste management visit the Wastersblog.
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