Further Landfill Closures In Past Year

24 November 2010

An annual report, published by BDS Marketing Research, has found that more than 30 landfill sites have closed in the past year. This is on top of nearly 50 sites that closed in the previous eighteen months.

The report, which estimates the volumes of waste accepted at individual landfill sites in the country, found contributing factors include the increase in landfill tax, the recession's effect on waste volume and the development of alternative waste treatment options all as causes for diverting waste streams away from landfill.

BDS estimates that the largest national landfill company continues to be WRG. It is thought to be the largest operator in an area extending from the south east to the north west. Biffa is the second largest landfill company, followed by Viridor. Together, these three companies represent an estimated 45 percent of the landfill market. Veolia, SITA and Cory are also major players in this industry. BDS estimates that the top six landfill companies represent 70 percent of the market.