Every year we pay more money to deal with our waste. As well as extra costs, our waste is having a huge impact on our environment too. In Leeds, as in most other local authorities, the majority of our household waste is buried in the ground in landfill sites. As the rubbish rots it releases harmful greenhouse gases, which scientists believe may contribute to global warming.
The European Union and our Government are demanding that councils reduce the amount of waste that they bury in landfill sites. If we don’t take action, we could be fined millions of pounds. We could face fines of around £200 million by 2020 alone if we don’t take action now.
What is the Integrated Waste Strategy for Leeds?
The Integrated Waste Strategy for Leeds 2005-35 sets out our long-term vision for dealing with our waste, and includes detailed plans of how we intend to achieve this vision. A full copy of the Strategy can be found on the right hand side of this page.
Zero Waste
Our vision is for Leeds to become a zero waste city. This means that we will reduce, re-use, recycle and recover value from all waste, that waste will become a resource, and that ultimately no waste will be sent to landfill.
Reducing our waste
If we stop making so much waste we can save resources and energy, reduce pollution, provide cheaper goods and reduce demand of waste disposal. You can download more information on how to reduce waste from the relevant attachment on this page.
Re-using our waste
As well as using a product again or finding a new use for it, things can be 'reused' by borrowing, sharing hiring, repairing or renting. Re-using is different from recycling because products are not broken down into their raw materials and reprocessed. Re-use reduces the use of raw materials, energy and transport. You can download more information on how to re-use waste from the relevant attachment on this page.
Recycling our waste
By 2020 Leeds must be recycling 50% of its household waste. To do this the council must consider improving its current household recycling services. We are looking at options for changing the frequency of collections and the range of things we collect from households, to keep the amount of waste that we need to treat or bury to a minimum. This could include emptying your green bin more often and collecting materials like glass, garden waste and food waste. Download more information by clicking on the relevant attachment for how to recycle more waste.
Making the most of our waste
Even after we’ve taken all these steps, there will be some waste that isn’t recycled, but neither can we bury it in landfill sites. We are therefore looking to develop a treatment facility for this waste so that we can get some value back from the material that is otherwise buried in the ground.
Helping each other
We need your support to make this strategy work. We will help people manage their waste through publicity, support for waste prevention, recycling and composting initiatives, education for children and young people, and through providing feedback on our progress and consultation results.
Making it work
We'll do everything we can to get everyone involved, but we know that a small number may not help. We are looking at ways of enforcing some of the vital steps to be taken. It is important that we can deal with people who threaten the efforts of everyone else.
Dealing with commercial and industrial waste
We will be leading the way in influencing how waste from shops, supermarkets, restaurants and other local businesses is managed.
Consultation
It is estimated that the people of Leeds have been provided with over 800,000 opportunities to comment on the Strategy during the consultation between December 2005 and June 2006. The consultation programme was one of the most extensive ever carried out by the Council. Click on the link at the bottom of this page for a summary of the Waste Strategy consultation results.
Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
A Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) have been completed on the Waste Strategy. These are assessments of the effects of the Strategy on the environment, and social and economic factors. Their purpose is to ensure a high level of protection of the environment, and to contribute to the integration of social, economic and environmental considerations into the preparation of the Strategy. The resulting Sustainability Appraisal report was subject to consultation alongside the Waste Strategy. You can download a full copy from the relevant attachment on this page.
Click on the image below to see a 360° video panorama of a materials recycling facility (MRF)
in Leeds.