The government is committed to developing AN INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. The strategy is based on five key mechanisms to achieve this (see figure 1.) and involves:

1. Recognising each step in the waste management process as part of a whole.

Decisions should take account of;

• Collection
• Transport
• Sorting
• Processing

Recovery and or disposal of wastes, and in the case of recovery identification of end uses or markets for the resulting materials or energy.

2. Involvement of all key players

Waste producers, managers, reprocessors, regulators, and management planners, community groups, individuals and households and government.

3. A mixture of waste management options.

Those planning the management of mixed or diverse wastes should avoid over-reliance on a single waste option. It is unlikely that one approach will represent BPEO for all elements of the waste stream.

Regulatory strategy - bringing opportunities for greater consistency and for measures to deal with solid waste to be considered alongside measures to tackle water and air pollution.

Market-based strategy - ensure that waste producers faced the full environmental costs of dealing with waste.

Planning strategy - Facilities will always be needed to deal with the waste society generates. The land use planning system is a key element in ensuring that facilities are provided in appropriate locations.

Promotion strategy - Public and industry awareness is vital to tackling waste at its source.

Data strategy - Sound information on waste is essential to proper planning. The Environment Agency has undertaken research on waste arisings.

Figure 1.