WRAP publishes latest waste management charges

The report, the sixth WRAP has produced, provides an updated summary of charges for a range of alternative waste treatment, recovery and disposal options across the UK.

Comparing current charges with those in previous years, the report summarises industry feedback on factors that may influence future gate fees.

The latest report finds that the median Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF) gate fee paid by local authorities is £9 per tonne, unchanged from the 2011-12 report.

A MRF gate fee is a fee paid either by a local authority to a MRF operator for processing its dry recyclables, or a fee paid to a local authority by a MRF operator for the dry recyclables.

Director of market economics WRAP, Steve Creed, said: “This market has seen some volatility recently. Based on a small sample of contracts (10) struck in 2012 it seems that there has been a reduction in what some MRFs are paying local authorities for dry recyclates in the last year, due to a range of factors including lower materials prices compared to 2011.

“But the big picture trend over the last few years indicates a decline in MRF gate fees paid by local authorities partly as competition has increased,” added Creed.

According to the report, the most significant change in in-vessel composting (IVC) gate fees has been the decrease in charges for food waste, which have decreased from a median of £49 per tonne last year to £39 per tonne this year.

In addition, the median gate fee reported by local authorities for the treatment of food waste at AD facilities has remained unchanged since last year at £41 per tonne.

Leigh Stringer