Private sector

During the early 1990s, the Environmental Protection Act was instrumental in altering the way in which municipal waste was managed in the UK. In an attempt to improve standards and introduce an element of competition, disposal authorities were required to use a third-party contractor (although this could be a local authority waste disposal company). The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 removed this restriction. In practical terms the letting of long-term collection and disposal contracts, together with the growth in private sector waste companies, has resulted in a loss of skills and delivery mechanisms within authorities.

The client/developer

The developer is often the waste management company and lead player but could also be a local authority (Waste Disposal Authority). They will typically have made a strategic or business/commercial decision to develop the new facility either as part of a local authority contract procurement process or independently. Commercial organisations will be clearly focused on commercial considerations of profitability and satisfying shareholders.

The landowner(s)

In many cases the developer will also be the landowner although this is not necessarily the case. Local authorities may retain the freehold to the property or the developer may have a leasehold arrangement with a third party landowner.

Landowners clearly play an important role in the process. They may be public or private sector but essentially they have similar objectives: to realise as much value as possible from their land holding. In some cases they may wish to influence the characteristics of a proposed development, particularly if they also own adjoining land.

Adjoining landowners may also state clear opinions on the use of a site. While their input to the design may often be limited, a solution for a site should consider their interests particularly where longer term relations are an important consideration.

Financiers

The development of new waste facilities is an expensive process. Although some large waste management companies will be able to fund new projects out of private equity, others will require third party investment. Where a municipal facility is being developed certain government bodies may also be acting in the role of financiers.

Those funding the delivery will expect the planning and delivery risks to be minimised and design parameters will be an important component of this.

This means that many new waste facilities in England will be delivered by the private sector whether they are managing municipal or commercial waste. Although proposed developments will often be driven by a single waste management company or consortium there are often very different players within the design team.

Suppliers

New waste facilities will require input from numerous suppliers. These will include manufacturers of construction materials and in some cases specialist technology providers. Construction materials selection and availability will have a significant influence over the appearance of a development and potentially the construction cost. Input from technology providers is particularly appropriate where new, novel or specialist treatment techniques are required. Technology providers tend to receive some level of financial support from government bodies to trial their process and establish pilot plants. In more complex facilities technology providers may also play a key role in on-going management and maintenance.

Advisors

The role of independent, specialist advisors has grown dramatically over the past 30 years, with specialist consultancies advising on a wide range of issues. Advice is provided to both the private and public sectors and covers all aspects of waste management, from strategy formulation to detailed design and permits. It is also possible to involve a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) client design advisor who can provide sound, impartial and informed design advice. Having the advisor on board from the earliest stages can help bring certainty and control to the whole design process. A Client Design Advisor (usually an architect) maybe employed to provide independent design advice.