Impact of Landfill Tax Increases on Waste Management Companies and Consumers
The landfill tax was introduced in 1996 by the Government as a means of reducing pollution, by placing a levy on all waste disposed of at landfill. This started at £7.00 per tonne.
The Government has since increased landfill charges on the 1st of April each year. Last year the annual increase rose from £3.00 to £8.00 per tonne escalating landfill tax charges to £32.00 per tonne.
This year sees the second of three proposed £8.00 per tonne increases, as laid out within the budget, meaning a new landfill charge of £40.00 per tonne, representing a further 20% increase on last year.
Unfortunately, Landfill tax affects all waste producers and Waste Management companies throughout the UK.
Although we continue to strive to keep as much waste as possible away from landfill sites by further pre-treatment and recycling, prices are inevitably going to increase.
In the recent Budget, Chancellor Alistair Darling announced a continued increase of £8 per tonne per year to the standard rate of landfill tax up to 2013. These measures are intended to encourage investment in sustainable waste management.
We will continue to ensure that the price increases that result from these measures are kept to a minimum through continued stringent recycling policies. Please be mindful however when tendering for any new works that prices will increase significantly over the next few years.