The WAC (Waste Acceptance Criteria), originated as part of the UK government’s drive to reduce dependence on landfill as a disposal option, as well as to minimise landfill’s environmental and human health impact.
These concerns have led to the introduction of increasingly stringent regulatory procedures over the years. The Landfill Regulations (2005) and Waste Framework Directive (WFD) (2008/98/EC) put in place a statutory requirement for waste to be categorised and meet specific WAC, before it is disposed of at a landfill site.
For the waste producer, there is a ‘Duty of Care’ to ensure the waste is categorised. Meanwhile, a landfill operator must be satisfied that a ‘Basic Categorisation’ has been properly completed before it accepts the waste.