ABSTRACT
Article 5(2) of the EC Landfill Directive (1999) requires member states to significantly reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) sent to landfill in order to reduce landfill as a source of greenhouse gases. The United Kingdom sent 75 per cent of waste to landfill in 2003, a higher proportion than all other EU members bar Greece. This compares poorly with the 20 per cent and below for the best performers. Each member state can implement its own systems to achieve the Directive targets, and England, following consultation, has recently introduced a tradable permit scheme, the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS), that is believed to be the first in the world that involves trading between public bodies.
