UK landfill industry has 10 years’ remaining void life

BDS Marketing Research Ltd publish latest annual report on the waste and landfill sector

IN their latest report on the waste sector, marketing consultancy BDS Marketing Research Ltd estimate that the landfill industry has 10 years’ remaining void life.

Of the companies involved in this sector, WRG are thought to have the highest remaining consented void, representing an estimated 25% of industry void. This represents 13 years of void at current infilling rates for WRG.

Viridor are estimated to have the second highest amount of remaining void in the industry. This represents an estimated 10% of total industry consented void and is equivalent to 13 years’ life at current infilling rates.

In order of void size, the top five companies are completed by Biffa, Veolia and SITA, each of which is currently estimated to have around nine years void life.

According to BDS, there has been a dearth of new void granted over the past year. Since the start of 2010, the consultancy has identified just 1 million cubic metres of consented additional void. Over the same time, applications for an additional 13 million cubic metres of void have either been withdrawn or refused.

The report also reveals noticeable regional variations in void levels. In the South East and South West, BDS believe that remaining void space represents less than eight years life at current rates, while in Yorkshire and Humberside, void space is estimated at around nine years. In all other regions void space is thought to be in excess of 10 years.

BDS believe that void life will extend beyond the 10-year average, as the amount of waste being sent to landfill is decreasing due to both the recession and the development of alternative waste-treatment options.

Further details of the report entitled: ‘Estimated landfill void by company and location in Great Britain’, contact BDS Marketing.