GLOSSARY OF
TERMS

 

 

Anaerobic Digestion

Anaerobic digestion is a natural process. It is the breakdown of organic material in the absence of air. It is a mature technology in other European countries where it is used as a waste management method. It is carried out in an enclosed vessel and produces methane which powers an engine used to produce electricity. The useful outcomes of anaerobic digestion are electricity, heat, and the solid material left over called the digestate. Both the heat and the electricity can be sold if there is a market and the digestate can either be sold or used for agricultural purposes (landspread).

A water bearing geological formation. Water may percolate along an aquifer, following the gradient of the stratum. An aquifer is generally located between 2 impervious layers.

This has been defined by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution as "the outcome of a systematic consultative and decision making procedure which emphasises the protection and conservation of the environment across land, air and water. The BPEO procedure establishes for a given set of objectives, the option that provides the most benefits or the least damage to the environment, as a whole, at acceptable cost, in the long term as well as in the short term".

This is the breakdown of plant matter by the action of micro-organisms and other organisms into usable end-products. It is an important method of processing organic waste because it reduces the amount of potentially polluting waste going to landfill or incineration.

This was established in April 1996, and combines the previous functions of the Waste Regulation Authorities the National Rivers Authority and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Pollution. This promotes a more integrated approach to waste management and more consistent approach to waste regulation. The Agency will also have a key role in the improvement of information about waste management, in particular it will conduct a national survey of waste arisings and waste facilities.

Environmental Impact Assessment

The process by which the impact on the environment of a proposed development can be assessed. Certain types and scale of waste proposals will require an Environmental Impact Assessment to be carried out. The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999 and the accompanying Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Circular 02/99 sets out the circumstances when planning applications will be required to be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The information contained in the EIA will be taken into account when the Councils determine such proposals.

Is contained within underground strata (aquifers) of various types across the country. Groundwater is usually of high quality and often requires little treatment prior to use. It is however, vulnerable to contamination from pollutants. Aquifer remediation is difficult, prolonged and expensive and therefore the prevention of pollution is important.

Are facilities to which the public may bring domestic waste of any type, other than waste arising in the course of a business, for free disposal. They are open, normally, 7 days a week. Where possible, waste is sent to be recycled or re-used after being sorted. The remaining waste is sent for disposal.

The Study of water below ground surface.

The study of the way water behaves within an area.

The controlled disposal of waste into or onto land.

The controlled deposit of waste onto previously undisturbed land or the raising of levels on existing sites over and above that necessary for proper engineering controls and restoration.

A by-product from the digestion by anaerobic bacteria of putrescible matter present in waste deposited at landfill sites. The gas is predominantly methane (65 percent) together with carbon dioxide (35 percent) and trace concentrations of a range of vapours and gases.

Leachate

A liquid generated at landfill sites by the solution in rainwater, groundwater or inherent moisture of compounds which are present in the waste and/or arise through decomposition.

Life cycle assessment is an objective process to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a product, process or activity by identifying and quantifying energy and materials used and wastes released to the environment, to assess the impact of those energy and materials uses and releases on the environment, and to evaluate and implement opportunities to affect environmental improvements.

A building for recycling or recovery of waste materials

The National Forest is a major new multi-purpose forest that has been established covering part of the county of Leicestershire. Planting there promotes economic regeneration in a landscape damaged by industrial dereliction, while creating new recreational opportunities and wildlife habitats. Its designation has no direct statutory implications for the planning process. The designation does not confer a more restrictive or more permissive land-use planning designation in the area.

Is a requirement on regional electricity companies in England and Wales to purchase from specified producers, at a premium price, for a fixed period, specified amounts of electricity generated by methods other than burning fossil fuels.

Waste should be disposed of (or otherwise managed) close to the point at which it is generated. This creates a more responsible and hence sustainable approach to the generation of wastes, and also limits pollution from transport, where waste cannot be disposed of reasonably close to its source, then priority should be given to the use of rail or water transport where this would reduce the overall environmental impact and is economically feasible.

Waste readily able to be decomposed by bacterial action. Landfill gas and leachate can occur as by-products of this decomposition.

Involves the reprocessing of wastes, either into the same product or a different one. Many non-hazardous industrial wastes such as paper, glass, cardboard, plastics and scrap metals can be recycled. Special wastes such as solvents can also be recycled by specialist companies, or by in-house equipment.

Can occur within a company, or by moving waste for re-use elsewhere. Some companies have introduced re-usable packaging, such as "tote" boxes for products. This avoids the need for cardboard and polystyrene packaging every time raw materials are delivered. Standardisation of pallets for example can help companies to re-use more of their packaging. Other products such as solvents can be re-used within a company by installing re-circulation systems or distillation units.

A key aim of sustainable waste management is regional self-sufficiency in waste disposal. When regional waste fora are established they will have the key role in assessing regional arisings and requirements, and then establishing what provision for facilities the relevant Waste Planning Authorities will need to make. Each regional forum should aim to provide sufficient capacity of facilities to manage the waste for its area for a period of at least 10 years.

These are any geological or geomorphological sites, excluding SSSIs, that are considered worthy of protection for their educational, research, historical or aesthetic importance. RIGS are broadly analogous to non-statutory wildlife sites and are often referred to locally by the same name. They can include important teaching sites, wildlife trust reserves, Local Nature Reserves and a wide range of other sites. RIGS are not regarded as "understudy" SSSIs but as sites of regional importance in their own right. The strategy for selecting and conserving Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological sites involves the setting up of a local RIGS group.

These sites are notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 by English Nature whose responsibility it is to protect these areas. These are important areas for nature conservation i.e. valuable flora, fauna or geological strata. English Nature needs to be notified of planning proposals in or adjacent to the designated areas. National Nature Reserves (NNRs), terrestrial RAMSAR sites, Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are also SSSIs under national legislation.

Special Waste Regulations: 1996

The new Special Waste Regulations came into force on 1st September 1996. These regulations have two effects. First, they increase the types of waste that are now special; significantly asbestos and most used mineral oils, as well as paints and acids. Second, the classification of sites for licensing purposes is effected. To this end, the Environment Agency has written to licence holders previously licensed to receive non-special waste that have subsequently become special, asking them to choose whether or not they want to continue taking special waste. If significant numbers of sites decide to stop taking newly designated special waste, there may be an impact on both the local availability of suitable disposal sites and hence the input rates of other sites.

The concept of reconciling the two objectives of economic development with environmental protection. A widely quoted definition of this concept is "development that meets the needs of the present without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

Metric Tons. One tonne weighs a little less than one imperial ton, (1 ton = 1.016 tonnes).

Receive wastes which are then bulked up and transported for disposal or recovery. Some transfer stations sort out the recoverable wastes, such as construction waste and scrap metal prior to disposal of the bulk waste.

The hole (volume) created by mineral working with potential for landfilling with waste.

This can be either a landfill or landraise site. These have already been defined in the Glossary. These sites may include waste management facilities for the treatment of certain types of waste.

Suggests that: the most effective environmental solution may often be to reduce the amount of waste generated - reduction; where further reduction is not practicable, products and materials can sometimes be used again, either for the same or a different purpose - re-use; failing that, value should be recovered from waste, through recycling, composting or energy recovery from waste; only if none of the above offer an appropriate solution should waste be disposed.

Waste Incinerator

Is the burning of waste at high temperatures to reduce its weight and volume. Many incineration plants are known as waste to energy facilities due to the beneficial recovery of energy in the form of heat and power.

The reduction of unwanted outputs from the manufacturing process and the manufacture of products that are likely to result in less waste when they are used.

To make waste production and waste management practices more sustainable, key objectives are to reduce the amount of waste that is produced, make the best use of waste produced and choose practices which minimise the risks of pollution and harm to human health. Waste reduction is concerned with reducing the quantity of solid waste that is produced and reducing the degree of hazard represented by such waste.