Waste in the United Kingdom (Part 1) by Nick Upton, 2006
 
 

 		  
1 Introduction
The very word waste has negative connotations; the implication is of something left over, useless, something with no worth, simply a by-product of another process. In the context of rural resources, waste is best regarded as that which remains to be disposed of after its intended use has ceased; the definition favoured by HM Customs and Excise (2004) is anything that “has been intentionally disposed of or which was intended to be disposed of when produced”. Other definitions continue this negative theme that surrounds the word; a dreary scene – deserted region; being used up; useless remains; injury, fatigue (Fowler & Fowler, 1964), but it is the term “to lay waste” that can focus our attention on the potential for waste to damage our environment; the definition being – “ to bring into bad condition by damage or neglect” (Fowler & Fowler, 1964). This negative air that surrounds waste is perhaps to regard it as worthless, whereas a rather more positive view would be to regard waste as a resource itself; something that can be used to create a new product.
 
  Whichever view is taken, it is apparent that a certain amount of thought, and ultimately legislation, is required to deal with waste in a way that is acceptable to the public, cost-efficient and sustainable.  
 


2 Current Waste Regulation
In the United Kingdom (UK) waste regulation is influenced at four levels: European, national, regional and local. The European Union (EU) issues directives which give national governments the obligation to transpose the principles outlined in each directive into national policy; it is then up to regional and local bodies to interpret these policies in a way most suitable for their needs (Hull City Council & East Riding of Yorkshire Council, 2004; arc21, 2003). This system can be viewed in both positive and negative fashions; it can be seen as useful to have the EU acting as a patriarchal figure, providing a guiding hand and leaving the intricacies to be prescribed at a local level, presumably by the people that understand the local situation most fully; conversely this system could be viewed as one that, with its multiple legislative layers, consumes large amounts of financial resources that could be better used dealing with the problems of waste in a more practical manner. This system does adopt an holistic view to the waste situation in that it creates international standards to be adhered to which recognise the links between the consumer society and its waste, soil, water and air pollution, depletion of resources and landscape.

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