Waste Management and Renewable Energy

Waste planning has changed in recent years as the emphasis has moved away from landfill towards recycling and energy recovery. The need for landfill remains as the disposal method of last resort but achieving planning permission has become much more difficult. Environmental impact is a key issue but engagement with local and national waste planning policies is now the key factor, as well as the requirements of the environmental permitting system.

The range of waste management techniques is expanding and each brings its own development requirements and environmental impacts. The main issue associated with composting and digestion is frequently odour and a high standard of environmental control is required. Getting it wrong can create major problems with neighbours which in turn leads to difficulties with regulators. Therefore as a leading waste planning consultant you can rely on LDP to help you plan your waste and renewable energy requirements.

Waste transfer stations, often with mechanical separation systems, and construction and demolition waste processing bring their own design issues and impact mitigation requirements. As with landfill, environmental permitting has to be a consideration from the beginning of the design process.

Incinerators and gasifiers involve larger structures with stacks; air quality issues and landscape/visual impacts frequently galvanise local residents into opposing planning applications. Within and surrounding the major urban areas, Green Belt issues often come to the fore. Similar considerations usually apply to wind turbines as well.

As with minerals planning, planning for waste requires knowledge of industry practices, technology, regulation and impacts. We  have extensive experience in these fields which enables us to deal with clients and regulators, as well as technical consultants.