57.The Act will ensure that the reductions in the landfilling of biodegradable municipal waste required to meet the targets in Article 5(2) of the Landfill Directive are distributed evenly among the UK’s constituent countries, and that the targets are met in the most cost effective and efficient way. The administrative burden on both local authorities and landfill operators will be marginal.
58.The UK Emissions Trading Scheme is voluntary and the Act puts in place the penalties framework for those companies that miss their emissions reduction targets. Companies are expecting a measure along the lines of section 39 and the bringing forward of such a measure is expressly referred to in their existing contracts with the Secretary of State.