There is a host of legislation and guidance that relates to waste management and the planning system in England and Wales. Waste Strategy 2007 sets out the government's vision for sustainable waste management in England. It establishes a framework and approach to waste strategy, central to which is moving waste management up the waste hierarchy and meeting European waste targets.
The core objectives of national legislation and strategy are to:
■ decouple waste growth (in all sectors) from economic growth and put more emphasis on waste prevention and re-use
■ meet and exceed the Landfill Directive diversion targets for biodegradable municipal waste in 2010, 2013 and 2020
■ increase diversion from landfill of non-municipal waste and secure better integration of treatment for municipal and non-municipal waste
■ secure the investment in infrastructure needed for increased recovery of resources and for the management of hazardous waste
■ get the most environmental benefit from that investment, through increased recycling of resources and recovery of energy from residual waste using a mix of technologies.
Construction of new waste management facilities is fundamental to delivering this strategy. Other tools are applied at a national level to assist in the implementation of Waste Strategy 2007, such as the landfill allowance trading scheme (LATS).
Defra's Waste Infrastructure Delivery Programme (WIDP) published planning guidance directed at the procurement of new waste facilities. This guidance encourages a proactive approach to waste planning from strategic decisions to the delivery of facilities on the ground. This was followed by WIDP's 'Planning Health Framework' which provides a means to evaluate the potential strategic and site specific opportunities and constraints to the development of new waste facilities. Authorities are strongly encouraged to understand and proactively manage planning risks.