Howard and Tim Robinson of Phoenix have recently completed work with David Brown and Steven Shaw from Honace Limited, and Dr. Robert Gregory from Gregory Environmental Consulting Limited, to research and prepare a report for DEFRA entitled, ‘Landfill Aftercare – Scoping Study’. The project was awarded to Honace, with a rapid turn-around period, and an interim report was presented to the LANDDS Forum in Birmingham earlier in the year (see
The aim of the DEFRA project has been to carry out an investigation into the environmental and financial issues associated with the aftercare of landfills in England, and the feasibility of reducing the length of the aftercare period.
The study has had 3 primary aims, which are:
- A literature review of techniques available for accelerated landfill stabilisation, and their potential applicability to English landfills, including any constraints and potential cost benefits;
- Improvement of the dataset around the UK landfill population including an assessment of landfill ownership, their categorisation, and their suitability for potential accelerated stabilisation; and
- Consideration as to whether the UK’s completion criteria is the most appropriate and assessment of alternative completion criteria methodology to enable landfill permit surrender.
The study is a high-level investigation which aims to identify potential knowledge gaps and where targeted research may be necessary to inform the model and reduce the uncertainties surrounding aftercare planning. It has considered the opportunities for shortening the aftercare period to reduce these uncertainties and limit the cost for owners/operators. As such, work involved arranged meetings with landfill owners and operators for detailed discussions, allowing practitioners to discuss their current approach to aftercare provision, and to make inputs into the process.
The report was completed and approved by DEFRA last month, and will be more widely available in due course.
