Landfill allowance trading scheme review
The Landfill Directive sets challenging targets for Member States to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) sent to landfill. In England this requirement is implemented by the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS), which allocates to Waste Disposal Authorities allowances to cover a quantity of waste that can be sent by them to landfill in trading years (April to March). Similar schemes operate in the Devolved Administrations.
When LATS was introduced Defra committed to a review of its operation after the first two scheme years to ensure that it was working efficiently. Therefore, a review was carried out following on from the 06/07 scheme year and completed earlier this year.
The review was carried out by DfT’s In-House Policy Consultants. The aim of the review was to provide recommendations to improve the systems, processes and monitoring functions of the scheme. The objectives were to gather information, views and evidence from stakeholders on the operation of the scheme. The focus of the review was explicitly on the operational aspects of the scheme rather than LATS policy questions which were excluded from the scope.
The Action Plan gives detailed response to each of the recommendations. Defra is working with the Environment Agency and others to ensure that action is taken forward and that the scheme remains fit for purpose.
- Annex's A - G (PDF 441 KB)
- Government Response to the Operational Review of the Landfill Allowances Trading Scheme (PDF 75 KB)
Page last modified:
10 November 2008
Page published: 5 February 2003