Waste Management Strategy for Calderdale

14.11 Since 1999 the Council has been both the waste collection and waste disposal authority and is responsible for the collection, reception, processing, recovery, recycling, transport and end disposal of municipal waste which also includes some commercial and industrial waste in the District. The Community Strategy (2006) has indicated that there should be less household waste and more waste recycled and composted. The total annual generation of municipal waste in Calderdale during 2005/06 was about 87,000 tonnes, of which 69,000 tonnes was household waste, not recycled but disposed of to landfill. As there are no suitable landfill sites in Calderdale waste is transported from the transfer loading stations in Halifax and at Eastwood to Lancashire. Some 12,600 tonnes was recycled, 5,100 tonnes was composted and about 140 tonnes of clinical waste was landfilled or was incinerated. The Council also provides five household waste sites throughout the District (see Policy WM 4 ‘Recycling at Existing Household Waste Disposal Sites’) that receive 38% of the household waste generated.

14.12 The Council needs to divert increasing quantities of Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW) away from landfill to comply with the EU Landfill Directive. To achieve higher levels of recycling the Council recognises that there is a need for separate household recycling collections at source and a kerbside collection scheme based on paper and glass has been introduced. To achieve higher levels of recycling more complex and expensive arrangements will be required, involving the provision of capital for a processing plant. Packages may include any combination of solutions drawn from material recycling facilities, composting or energy from waste. Under the terms of the Directive, Calderdale will be obliged to divert:

  • 25% of BMW away from landfill by 2010,
  • 50% by 2013 and
  • 65% by 2016.

The Council's current strategy is to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill to satisfy LATS and to increase the emphasis on waste minimisation, to continue to develop recycling/composting and to procure from the private sector long-term waste treatment and disposal that will result in a reduction in waste going to landfill. In the future new collection contracts will be required and may include joint working with adjacent local authorities.

14.13 The following Part One Policies take into account the European, national and regional guidance for waste management to be applied in the District.

POLICY GWM 1

WASTE STRATEGY

A WASTE MANAGEMENT HIERARCHY WILL BE PROMOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATIONAL AND REGIONAL GUIDANCE WHICH FAVOURS, IN ORDER OF PRIORITY:-
  1. REDUCTION;
  2. RE-USE;
  3. RECOVERY, RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING;
  4. ENERGY RECOVERY; AND
  5. DISPOSAL TO LANDFILL

POLICY GWM 2

NEW WASTE FACILITIES

PROPOSALS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW WASTE FACILITIES WILL BE CONSIDERED ON THE BASIS OF:-
  1. LOCAL NEED AND/OR REGIONAL REQUIREMENTS;
  2. THE PROXIMITY PRINCIPLE;
  3. REGIONAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY;
  4. THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITIES
  5. THE WASTE HIERARCHY IN POLICY GWM1;AND
  6. OTHER RELEVANT PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS.

14.14 Planning applications and proposals for waste management facilities and other related developments will need to take account of the Council’s Waste Management Strategy and the strategic considerations contained within POLICY GWM 1 ‘WASTE STRATEGY’ and POLICY GWM 2 ‘NEW WASTE FACILITIES’. In addition however, it is important to provide guidance to developers concerning the consideration of applications and the criteria that will be applied to them. These are set out in the following Policy:-

Policy WM 1

Criteria for Assessing Waste Management Facilities

Proposals for waste management facilities will be permitted where the effects of the proposals on the environment, other existing and proposed land uses, and the local inhabitants/communities, are acceptable. In particular proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:-
  1. that there is a demonstrated need for the facility;
  2. location in relation to the main sources of waste;
  3. the potential impact on local communities and other sensitive land uses;
  4. the development preserves or enhances Conservation Areas and does not adversely affect Listed Buildings or their settings, Scheduled Monuments and other sites of archaeological or historic interest where these are material considerations;
  5. the potential impact on the Green Belt, agricultural land, landscape, the natural environment and habitat sites and species including sites subject to statutory protection;
  6. local environmental effects including noise, dust, vibration, odour, litter, contamination, attraction of vermin or birds and potential for the pollution of surface water or ground water;
  7. hours of operation;
  8. land instability;
  9. mode of transport, including the use of alternative modes of transport other than by road access, traffic volumes and highway safety;
  10. the need to avoid a proliferation of sites in a locality such as would be likely to have a detrimental impact by virtue of their cumulative impact; and
  11. is consistent with other relevant UDP policies.

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