Many people ask at this time of year, why has the cost of my business waste contract increased and am I still getting a competitively priced waste collection service? This is because on April 1st the government traditionally increases the cost of landfill tax.

Call Cawleys on 0845 260 2000 for a competitive quote

If you would like to compare costs and see if you can improve on your current waste collection service and recycling levels, please give us a call. Our sales team will be pleased to help and discuss your waste collection needs and potential costs, in confidence.

This blog post explains the background to rising costs across the waste industry.

We understand the need to ensure you always receive a competitively priced waste collection service, one which ensures your waste collection service is reliable, convenient, keenly priced and of course environmentally compliant.

Please put us to the test! Call 0845 260 2000 and ask for sales or email sales@cawleys.co.uk.

Landfill tax

Landfill tax was introduced on 1 October 1996 and was the UK’s first tax with an explicit environmental purpose. The aim was to encourage people to recycle rather than throw away, and that aim has never changed. The tax is collected from landfill site operators and when first introduced was charged at a standard rate per tonne on ‘active waste’ (such as plastic packaging) of £7 per tonne and at a lower rate on inactive waste (such as builder’s rubble) of £3 tonne.

Pressure on global resources

Since 1966 the world population has increased from 3.3 billion to 7.2 billion. The pressure on our environment and resources has never been greater. Reflecting this mounting pressure, landfill tax has increased every year since them, with a focus on preventing recyclable material from being wasted in landfill.

From April 2016 the standard rate for landfill will be set at £84.40 per tonne and the lower rate at £2.65 per tonne.

Second life uses

But actually, nowadays the reason for price increases to business waste contracts is less about the landfill tax increase and more about the changing technologies around the second life uses of waste stream resources to encourage a ‘closed loop economy’.

Since 1966 we have seen the introduction of Materials Recycling Facilities (MRF) such as our own ‘state of the art’ plant in Luton; anaerobic technology, and pyrolysis, gasification and plasma technologies to harness the caloric value of waste and extract precious metals for reuse.

Higher standards and insurance

Global commodity prices such as the price of oil and many metals have fallen sharply which has driven down recyclate prices. At the same time, the technology behind recycling resources has become increasingly sophisticated, which creates a need for higher standards and due process within the industry.

Quite rightly, the Environment Agency and the Health & Safety Executive requires high standards to be upheld, particularly round fire protection and avoidance systems, but this brings insurance cost increases as well as increases in capital costs.

Transport technology

The decline in fuel prices does have the benefit of keeping transport costs down, but at the same time, vehicles themselves have become far more sophisticated with on-board technology for example offering much greater cost transparency and data immediately.

All these investments in vehicle and equipment improvements, which help us to protect the environment and offer business waste management best practice, have a cost, which is another factor behind price increases across the waste sector.

The future has to be green

At Cawleys our ethos is ‘local recycling, global responsibility’ and we will always do our utmost to ensure the best possible waste management service where ever you are, with the minimum impact on the environment.

We continue to invest in and refine our services such the RDF operation to help you achieve zero waste to landfill credentials, and the best possible environmental performance, all with the most competitive prices.

Competitive quotes

It is always a good idea to check that you are receiving the best value waste collection service. With almost seventy years trading as a family business you can be assured of a responsible and responsive service when you work with Cawleys. We hope you will give us the opportunity to quote for your waste collection service.

Please call us on 0845 260 2000 or email sales@cawleys.co.uk.