[3.29.02] Local Authorities are responsible for managing Local Authority Collected Waste in their area. Cumbria County Council is responsible for the disposal of waste collected by the National Park Authority and the District Councils. The National Park Authority is the local waste planning authority for the Lake District which means we determine applications for waste management proposals in the Lake District.
[3.29.03] There are no operational waste disposal sites in the Lake District and little evidence of demand or need. The Cumbria Minerals and Waste Local Plan did not identify a need for waste disposal sites within the Lake District, and through continued engagement with the County Council we were informed that Kendal Fell Quarry was no longer needed for Mechanical Biological Treatment.
[3.29.04] The population of the Lake District is significantly increased each year by approximately 19 million tourists, generating waste which is collected through the Local Authority Collected Waste stream, much of which ends up in landfill or incineration.
[3.29.05] There is one household waste recycling centre at Ambleside and several local recycling points in Rural Service Centres, Villages and Cluster Communities. There are several waste water treatment works in the Rural Service Centres and Villages. Septic tanks are emptied via private waste contractors. Some agricultural waste is provided for through the Farm Plastic collection scheme which is operated locally and on-site hazardous or special wastes collection. Organic agricultural waste is traditionally disposed of through land spreading. Low level radioactive waste is managed at the Low Level Waste Repository in West Cumbria, outside the Lake District.
[3.29.06] Additionally, there are approximately 1160 farm holdings in the Lake District producing organic agricultural waste. There is a need to embrace new technology to increase the scope for small-scale, on-farm anaerobic digestion plants as an alternative means of dealing with organic wastes.
[3.29.07] We approve on average 900 planning applications for new development each year, each of which creates construction and demolition waste to varying degrees, some of which ends up as landfill. Construction and demolition materials are generated when new building and civil engineering structures are built and when existing buildings and civil-engineering structures are renovated or demolished.
[3.29.08] The Lake District is a protected area based on its landscape and scenic beauty and new strategic landfill sites are considered inappropriate in relation to these issues. However, agricultural landfill for improvement purposes, business enhancement and biodiversity may be acceptable.
[3.29.09] The Government is to embark on a new search to find a site suitable to develop a geological disposal facility to store the UK’s high radioactive waste which may result in unacceptable impacts on the Lake District if neighbouring authorities consider hosting such a facility.
[3.29.10] When determining planning applications for a waste management facility we will also consider the National Planning Policy for Waste, in particular the locational criteria set out in Appendix B of that document.
[3.29.11] There are several types of waste development (see Glossary) that manage the varying types of waste. These facilities have different scales, visual impacts, noise levels, treatment processes and location requirements and not all are appropriate for the Lake District. Any new waste management facility must be of a scale and type that does not adversely affect its surroundings. For example, in-vessel composters could be suitable for small scale industrial or commercial operations. Open windrow composting is a common farm scale method which could be a farm diversification scheme, along with appropriately sized anaerobic digestion systems.
[3.29.12] We want to reduce construction and demolition waste from new development which involves the redevelopment of previously developed land, such as where a small property is to be knocked down and replaced by a larger property. We require the applicant to demonstrate how waste arising from the build process will be minimised through reuse on and off site and recycling. See Policy 06: Design and development for further details.
[3.29.13] There may be small areas of land which need improvement, such as agricultural land enhancement where using inert waste may be acceptable. Such proposals should accommodate waste from local sources.
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