The resource efficiency body's third annual Gate Fees Report underlines the financial and environmental benefits of recycling or composting wastes wherever possible.

The report summarises "gate fees" charged by providers for a range of alternative waste treatment, recovery and disposal options, together with an analysis of the factors likely to influence future gate fees and comparison with last year's report.

Gate fees for similar waste management options vary substantially both across and within regions. For example, spot and contract gate fees can differ depending on spare capacity and local market conditions (influenced to some extent by haulage costs).

Although there are many variations, gate fees at material recovery facilities (MRFs) and landfill sites are substantially lower than those at incineration facilities.

(An MRF is a place where materials in a mixed waste stream are separated for recycling using mechanical techniques).

For organics, open-air windrow (OAW – used for processing garden waste either outside or within sheds) gate fees are lower than those for anaerobic digestion (AD) and in-vessel composting (IV).

These, in turn, are lower than gate fees for mechanical biological treatment (MBT) facilities.

One clear trend is the impact of the landfill tax – which rises every year. This will make landfill more and more expensive compared with other options.

Respondents to the survey suggested that as the UK pulls out of the recession, the cost of borrowing reduces and more capacity becomes available, gate fees may fall for some facilities. However, this reduction is unlikely to be passed on until councils retender contracts.

Some respondents suggested that falling gate fees at Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) could encourage greater focus on the quality of materials to increase the value recovered from the market.

Other survey respondents noted that higher landfill tax, alongside higher regulatory costs, may work to increase fees across a range of treatment options.

Phillip Ward, Director of Local Government Services at WRAP said: "The gate fees report gives an up-to-date snapshot of the waste management industry and its charges. It highlights that recycling is still generally the cheapest option as well as being better for the environment."

The report is also intended to raise price transparency and so improve efficiency in the waste management market.

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