Wales – could "sink in rubbish" in less than 10 years

Wales will be sinking in its own rubbish within the next decade if new technologies are not developed and implemented, according to consultants



Consultants Hyder reports that in less than seven years parts of Wales will have no landfill space left if the amount of waste generated by households, industry and agriculture continues at its present rate.



12 million tonnes of waste is collected each year in Wales, that’s the equivalent to filling 13,000 transit vans a day. At present more than 70 per cent of that waste goes straight to landfill. While increasing the rate of recycling is one solution, waste treatment plants have to be introduced to deal with the residual waste that can not be recycled such as nappies, composite materials and certain types of plastics. Even if targets of 70 per cent recycling and composting rates are achieved by 2025, it is estimated that up to 900 plants, from Mechanical Biological Treatment facilities to Energy Recovery plants, will be required to deal with all the different types of waste generated.



Energy recovery plants have already been introduced successfully across Europe and North America, where residents have benefited from cleaner environments, innovative architectural design and cheaper energy.



Adam Read, professor of waste management and technical director at Hyder Consulting said: “Energy recovery plants already play a significant role in major cities like Paris and Vienna, where 50% of the city’s rubbish is treated to generate local electricity and heat. You will find them in the suburbs, as well as in industrial areas. In these cities the management of waste does not have a negative impact on the environment, but is seen as an opportunity.



“These plants are highly regulated, clean and efficient forms of treatment for residual waste. And they are designed to limit noise and odour impact. Sewage treatment plants and industrial processing facilities can often smell worse, but the public believe that the new facilities will resemble the dirty incinerators of the 1940s and 50s. This is a long way from the truth.



“Communities in Europe have been involved in the design and location of their plants – some like the Spittelau in Vienna has even become a tourist attraction. Communities are also benefiting from the heat they generate and cheaper electricity. This is one of the sensible approaches we believe should be developed in Wales, for materials that cannot be recycled or composted so that the communities with these facilities benefit from them and are involved in their design.”



A long-term national waste strategy for Wales is being prepared by the Welsh Assembly Government, which will work alongside the Regional Waste Plans in outlining the need for an integrated network of waste management facilities for the country. As part of this programme of development Hyder Consulting has launched a regional waste plan review consultation process across the three regions; the North, South East and South West regions.