Council Directive 1999/31/ECShow full title

ANNEX I U.K. GENERAL REGUIREMENTS FOR ALL CLASSES OF LANDFILLS

1. Location U.K.

1.1. The location of a landfill must take into consideration requirements relating to: U.K.

(a)

the distances from the boundary of the site to residential and recreation areas, waterways, water bodies and other agricultural or urban sites;

(b)

the existence of groundwater, coastal water or nature protection zones in the area;

(c)

the geological and hydrogeological conditions in the area;

(d)

the risk of flooding, subsidence, landslides or avalanches on the site;

(e)

the protection of the nature or cultural patrimony in the area.

1.2. The landfill can be authorised only if the characteristics of the site with respect to the abovementioned requirements, or the corrective measures to be taken, indicate that the landfill does not pose a serious environmental risk. U.K.

2. Water control and leachate management U.K.

Appropriate measures shall be taken, with respect to the characteristics of the landfill and the meteorological conditions, in order to:

• control water from precipitations entering into the landfill body,

• prevent surface water and/or groundwater from entering into the landfilled waste,

• collect contaminated water and leachate. If an assessment based on consideration of the location of the landfill and the waste to be accepted shows that the landfill poses no potential hazard to the environment, the competent authority may decide that this provision does not apply,

• treat contaminated water and leachate collected from the landfill to the appropriate standard required for their discharge.

The above provisions may not apply to landfills for inert waste.

3. Protection of soil and water U.K.

3.1. A landfill must be situated and designed so as to meet the necessary conditions for preventing pollution of the soil, groundwater or surface water and ensuring efficient collection of leachate as and when required according to Section 2. Protection of soil, groundwater and surface water is to be achieved by the combination of a geological barrier and a bottom liner during the operational/active phase and by the combination of a geological barrier and a bottom liner during the operational/active phase and by the combination of a geological barrier and a top liner during the passive phase/post closure. U.K.

3.2. The geological barrier is determined by geological and hydrogeological conditions below and in the vicinity of a landfill site providing sufficient attenuation capacity to prevent a potential risk to soil and groundwater. U.K.

The landfill base and sides shall consist of a mineral layer which satisfies permeability and thickness requirements with a combined effect in terms of protection of soil, groundwater and surface water at least equivalent to the one resulting from the following requirements:

• landfill for hazardous waste: K ≤ 1,0 × 10^{- 9} m/s; thickness ≥ 5 m,

• landfill for non-hazardous waste: K ≤ 1,0 × 10^{- 9} m/s; thickness ≥ 1 m,

• landfill for inert waste: K ≤ 1,0 × 10^{- 7} m/s; thickness ≥ 1 m,

m/s: meter/second. U.K.

Where the geological barrier does not naturally meet the above conditions it can be completed artificially and reinforced by other means giving equivalent protection. An artificially established geological barrier should be no less than 0,5 metres thick.

3.3. In addition to the geological barrier described above a leachate collection and sealing system must be added in accordance with the following principles so as to ensure that leachate accumulation at the base of the landfill is kept to a minimum: U.K.

Leachate collection and bottom sealing

Landfill category	non hazardous	hazardous
Artificial sealing liner	required	required
Drainage layer ≥ 0,5 m	required	required

Member States may set general or specific requirements for inert waste landfills and for the characteristics of the abovementioned technical means.

If the competent authority after a consideration of the potential hazards to the environment finds that the prevention of leachate formation is necessary, a surface sealing may be prescribed. Recommendations for the surface sealing are as follows:

Landfill category	non hazardous	hazardous
Gas drainage layer	required	not required
Artificial sealing liner	not required	required
Impermeable mineral layer	required	required
Drainage layer > 0,5 m	required	required
Top soil cover > 1 m	required	required.

3.4. If, on the basis of an assessment of environmental risks taking into account, in particular, Directive 80/68/EEC(1), the competent authority has decided, in accordance with Section 2 (‘Water control and leachate management’), that collection and treatment of leachate is not necessary or it has been established that the landfill poses no potential hazard to soil, groundwater or surface water, the requirements in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3 above may be reduced accordingly. In the case of landfills for inert waste these requirements may be adapted by national legislation. U.K.

3.5. The method to be used for the determination of the permeability coefficient for landfills, in the field and for the whole extension of the site, is to be developed and approved by the Committee set up under Article 17 of this Directive. U.K.

4. Gas control U.K.

4.1. Appropriate measures shall be taken in order to control the accumulation and migration of landfill gas (Annex III). U.K.

4.2. Landfill gas shall be collected from all landfills receiving biodegradable waste and the landfill gas must be treated and used. If the gas collected cannot be used to produce energy, it must be flared. U.K.

4.3. The collection, treatment and use of landfill gas under paragraph 4.2 shall be carried on in a manner which minimises damage to or deterioration of the environment and risk to human health. U.K.

5. Nuisances and hazards U.K.

Measures shall be taken to minimise nuisances and hazards arising from the landfill through:

• emissions of odours and dust,

• wind-blown materials,

• noise and traffic,

• birds, vermin and insects,

• formation and aerosols,

• fires.

The landfill shall be equipped so that dirt originating from the site is not dispersed onto public roads and the surrounding land.

6. Stability U.K.

The emplacement of waste on the site shall take place in such a way as to ensure stability of the mass of waste and associated structures, particularly in respect of avoidance of slippages. Where an artificial barrier is established it must be ascertained that the geological substratum, considering the morphology of the landfill, is sufficiently stable to prevent settlement that may cause damage to the barrier.

7. Barriers U.K.

The landfill shall be secured to prevent free access to the site. The gates shall be locked outside operating hours. The system of control and access to each facility should contain a programme of measures to detect and discourage illegal dumping in the facility.

[F1 8. Temporary storage of metallic mercury U.K.

For the purposes of temporary storage for more than 1 year of metallic mercury, the following requirements shall apply:

• Metallic mercury shall be stored separately from other waste.

• Containers shall be stored in collecting basins suitably coated so as to be free of cracks and gaps and impervious to metallic mercury with a containment volume adequate for the quantity of mercury stored.

• The storage site shall be provided with engineered or natural barriers that are adequate to protect the environment against mercury emissions and a containment volume adequate for the total quantity of mercury stored.

• The storage site floors shall be covered with mercury-resistant sealants. A slope with a collection sump shall be provided.

• The storage site shall be equipped with a fire protection system.

• Storage shall be arranged in a way to ensure that all containers are easily retrievable.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Inserted by Council Directive 2011/97/EU of 5 December 2011 amending Directive 1999/31/EC as regards specific criteria for the storage of metallic mercury considered as waste.

(1)

OJ L 20, 26.1.1980, p. 43. Directive as last amended by Directive 91/692/EEC (OJ L 377, 31.12.1991, p. 48).