Written Question · S6W-07992 · Session 6
Whether it will outline the procedure required to formally close a landfill site, including any period of monitoring required.
The question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the procedure required to formally close a landfill site, including any period
of monitoring required.
The answer
The status of a landfill site can be described as either ‘Operational’, ‘Closure’, ‘Definite Closure’ or ‘Aftercare’.
Landfill sites are not considered formally closed until they reach ‘Definite Closure’ status. Sites in the Closure phase are those which are no longer accepting waste, but could potentially be made operational again in the future.
The Landfill (Scotland) Regulations 2003 outline the formal legal process behind the closure of landfill sites to achieve Definite Closure.
As per these regulations, closing procedures to achieve Definite Closure begin when either the conditions specified in the landfill permit are satisfied; when SEPA initiate closing procedures following a request from the landfill operator; or following a reasoned decision of SEPA set out in a closure notice.
Closing procedures will not be completed until the reports from the operator, as required by SEPA, have been submitted to and assessed by SEPA; a final on-site inspection is carried out by SEPA; and SEPA have given the operator notice in writing that it approves the closure of the landfill site.
Once Definite Closure has been established the site is considered to be in its aftercare phase. The aftercare phase will continue until such time as an application to surrender the permit is approved. The site is regulated and monitored by SEPA throughout the operational, closure, definite closure and aftercare phases.
Further information can be found in SEPA guidance WST-G-56 ‘Guidance on Closed Landfill Regulated under Pollution Prevention and Control’.
Landfill sites are not considered formally closed until they reach ‘Definite Closure’ status. Sites in the Closure phase are those which are no longer accepting waste, but could potentially be made operational again in the future.
The Landfill (Scotland) Regulations 2003 outline the formal legal process behind the closure of landfill sites to achieve Definite Closure.
As per these regulations, closing procedures to achieve Definite Closure begin when either the conditions specified in the landfill permit are satisfied; when SEPA initiate closing procedures following a request from the landfill operator; or following a reasoned decision of SEPA set out in a closure notice.
Closing procedures will not be completed until the reports from the operator, as required by SEPA, have been submitted to and assessed by SEPA; a final on-site inspection is carried out by SEPA; and SEPA have given the operator notice in writing that it approves the closure of the landfill site.
Once Definite Closure has been established the site is considered to be in its aftercare phase. The aftercare phase will continue until such time as an application to surrender the permit is approved. The site is regulated and monitored by SEPA throughout the operational, closure, definite closure and aftercare phases.
Further information can be found in SEPA guidance WST-G-56 ‘Guidance on Closed Landfill Regulated under Pollution Prevention and Control’.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S6W-07992 by reference.