ABSTRACT
The major influences on the way the UK government legislates for the control of solid waste is, and increasingly will be, the European Union (EU), together with its obligations under international treaties. These factors will become even more important as the number of member states (MSs) of the EU increases and the EU institutions establish uniform standards of solid waste pollution control in order to achieve market equality. At present, the enforcement of such standards is weak and is likely to remain so for the immediate future. Therefore, while the United Kingdom may not emulate the standards of solid waste management adopted by Germany, Denmark or The Netherlands due to their different difficulties with landfill, it will undoubtedly remain in advance of the new accession countries for some time to come.
