Many companies think that, as landfill site owners have to account for it, it does not affect them, but could be a very costly way of looking at things.
Landfill tax is charged when waste is dumped at a landfill site.
Currently the rate is 11 per tonne of ordinary waste. When it was introduced in 1996, the rate was only 7 per tonne, but it is set to rise annually until the rate is 15 per tonne by 2004. This is a real cost because the amount paid out cannot be reclaimed, and so goes straight to the bottom line. Anyone who disposes of waste to landfill will be affected. Property developers in particular may be affected.