1977 - The first bottle banks appear in Britain.
1980s - The decade sees increasing public concern over waste disposal especially hazardous waste. The construction boom results in an estimated 1 million tons of illegally deposited waste lying around London at any one time. Those who produce the waste have no responsibility for it. Directives from the European Union begin to put pressure on the British government, and there are contentious issues such as the import of wastes, contaminated land and inadequate powers of waste regulators. The increasing number of private sector contractors in waste management begins to challenge the enforcements and self-regulation of the local authorities.
1986 - Environmental protection finally gets included in the Treaty of Rome through the Single European Act.
1987 - The National Council for Voluntary Organizations sets up a project called Waste Watch to promote and support waste reduction, reuse and recycling. Over fifteen years later, Waste Watch is an independent national charity working alongside local authorities, community and voluntary groups, businesses, industry and Government, providing advice, training and information from the Wasteline, as well as practical support for action.
1989 - The Commons Environment Committee inquiry, chaired by Sir Hugh Rossi, recommends that waste regulation pass from local authorities to a central body.
1990 - The Government produces "This Common Inheritance", its first comprehensive White Paper on the Environment. This sets out a waste strategy which regards waste minimization and recycling as priorities, and sets a target of 25% for the recycling of household waste by 2000. The subsequent Environmental Protection Act 1990 separates waste regulation from operational work in local authorities and implements more regulations and controls. It replaces the 1974 Act with a new licensing system covering all controlled wastes (certain household, commercial and industrial wastes) and requires local authorities to consider recycling in their waste strategies.
1992 - The Duty of Care is introduced, whereby anyone who "imports, produces, carries, keeps, treats or disposes of controlled waste" must take responsibility for it. Those who deal with waste are now given a duty to care for it, managing waste from its generation through to transfer and disposal. The Eco-labeling scheme is set up to recognize relative environmental impacts of similar products.
1994 - An EU Directive introduces the idea of producer responsibility with regard to packaging waste requiring member states to set targets on the reduction and recovery of packaging waste. This was followed by the UK's Producer Responsibility Obligations Section 93 (Packaging Waste) Regulations.
1995 - The Environment Act establishes the Environment Agency, replacing the National Rivers Authority, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution, Waste Regulation Authorities and some parts of the Department of the Environment. As a central body its aim is to manage and regulate not only waste but also industrial pollution and water resources.
1996 - The Government publishes its waste strategy for England and Wales, entitled "Making Waste Work". This document sets out plans for sustainable management of waste, and also confirms the target of 25% of household waste to be recycled by the year 2000. The landfill tax is introduced, which levies £7 per ton on active waste going to landfill in order to encourage alternatives such as reuse and recycling, and promote waste minimization. The standard rate will increase to £10/t from 1 April 1999, with a lower rate for inactive waste frozen at £2/t. Inert waste used in the restoration of landfill sites and quarries will be exempt from 1 October 1999.
1997 - The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) were implemented, requiring businesses to recover and recycle 38% of their packaging, increasing to 56% by 2001. There are also additional recycling targets to enforce a minimum percentage of recycling for each of the packaging materials (currently paper and card, plastics, aluminum, steel and glass). The obligations are shared between raw material manufacturers, converters, packers and fillers, and sellers.
1999 - The Government releases "A Way with Waste", a draft waste strategy for England and Wales updating "Making Waste Work". The national waste strategy for Scotland is also launched, with specific goals for reducing special and industrial waste arising. In the 1999 budget the landfill tax is placed on an "landfill escalator" of £1 per year until 2004.
2000 - A finalized waste strategy for England and Wales - "Waste Strategy 2000" - is published, setting revised national targets for the recycling or composting of household waste: 25% by 2005, 30% by 2010, and 33% by 2015. The "Waste Management Strategy for Northern Ireland" is launched, setting targets for household waste similar to "Waste Strategy 2000".
2002 - The EU Regulation on Ozone Depleting substances comes into force. Under this Regulation any insulation foam or cooling circuits containing CFCs or HCFCs must be recovered from fridges and freezers prior to shredding and disposal. Waste Not Want Not, the Strategy Unit's report on Waste Strategy 2000, is published.
2003 - The budget raises the landfill tax escalator to £3 per year from 2005. The WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Directive) is implemented. England will have to collect 4kg of WEEE from every household by 2006.
Section I: Introduction (YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN THIS SECTION)
Section II: Present
Section III: Future
Complete Table of Contents
Reference