An Inert Landfill can only accept Inert Waste that meets the Directive definition of inert (Article 2(e)) and the relevant Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC). WAC for Inert Waste is set out in paragraph 2.1 of the Annex to the EU Council Decision (1999/31/EC)[1]. The Decision provides a list of Inert Waste that can be accepted without testing where there is confidence that the waste is not contaminated, all other Inert Waste must be tested to demonstrate that they meet the leaching limit values given in the Decision for Landfill in an Inert Landfill[2].

Capacity Inert Landfill

The capacity of Inert Landfill is reported[3] by the EA for England and is summarised in the graph and table below. There were 160 sites reported in 2020, an increase of 1 on 2020, but an increase in overall capacity from 122.1 million cubic metres in 2019 to 140.2 million cubic metres in 2020.

Changes in Inert Landfill Capacity
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Table Summarizing Graph Data
Year 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Million Cubic Metres 132.6 147.8 125.2 124.5 122.1 140.2

Inert Landfill Capacity

England

All data 2020[4].


Region Number of Sites Total Void (m3) Average Void per site (m3)

Operational Landfill

References

  1. EU Council Decision (2003/33/EC) establishing criteria and procedures for the acceptance of waste at landfills pursuant to Art 16 of and Annex II to Directive 1999/31/EC
  2. Defra, 2010. Environmental Permitting Guidance: The Landfill Directive for the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010. London: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, p.7.
  3. EA Remaining Landfill Capacity
  4. EA Remaining Landfill Capacity