Appendix. D Glossary of Terms.
Aerobic Digestion
Biological degradation of organic material in the presence of oxygen, producing a residue suitable for use as a soil improver.
Anaerobic Digestion
Biological degradation of organic material in the absence of oxygen, producing methane gas used to generate electricity and
a residue suitable for use as a soil improver.
AHLV
Area of High Landscape Value (Designated by Local authority)
AONB
North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (designated by the Countryside Agency)
Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO)
The BPEO procedure establishes for a given set of objectives, the option that provides the most benefits or the least damage
to the environment, as a whole, at acceptable cost, in the long term as well as in the short term.
Best Value
A statutory duty on local authorities to deliver services, including waste collection and waste disposal management, to clear
standards on both cost and quality.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is about the whole range of living things from well known trees, flowering plants, birds, animals and butterflies
to lesser known mosses, lichens, fungi, marine species and even bacteria. Biodiversity is also about the wide range of habitats
that these animals live in and depend upon.
Bring Systems
System by which the public deliver their recyclables to a central collection point, such as those in supermarket car parks,
or at HWRC’s
Co-disposal
The calculated and monitored treatment by disposal of special waste with other non-special waste, usually household but could
include industrial and commercial waste in a landfill.
Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
The combined production of heat, usually in the form of steam, and power, usually in the form of electricity. In waste-fired
facilities the heat would normally be used as hot water to serve a district-heating scheme.
Composting
An aerobic process by which biologically degradable wastes, such as kitchen and garden waste, are broken down to form a stable,
granular material containing valuable organic matter, to improve the soil structure and to enhance its biological activity.
DEFRA
Department of Food and Rural Affairs
Dioxins
A family of 210 chlorinated compounds. 17 of the compounds are toxicologically significant. Dioxins are a by-product of any
combustion process, principally formed in the 250-400°C temperature range.
DTLR
Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions.
Energy from Waste (EfW)
The conversion of waste into a useable form of energy, e.g. heat or electricity. Common conversion processes are incineration
and anaerobic digestion.
Environment Agency
Aims to prevent or minimise the effects of pollution on the environment and issues permits to monitor and control activities
that handle or produce waste within the scope of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. It also provides up to date information
on waste arisings and the extent of, and need for management and disposal facilities.
Escrow Account
An independently held account into which the site operator pays, at a rate and to a limit agreed with the waste planning authority,
to meet reclamation requirements.
Flood Risk Assessment
An assessment of the risk of flooding to the development being proposed over its expected lifetime and its possible effects
on flood risks elsewhere in terms of its effects on flood flows and flood storage capacity and the run-off. Guidance on the
content of flood-risk assessments is set out in Annex F of PPG 25.
Flood Zones
Three types of Flood Zones have been identified to support the implementation of Government Planning Policy to prevent inappropriate
development in flood risk areas. Flood Zone 3 (High Risk) identifies areas of land with a 100 to 1 (1%) chance (or greater)
of flooding each year from rivers, or 200 to 1 (0.5%) chance (or greater) of flooding each year from the sea. Zone 2 (Low
to medium risk) identifies areas of land with an annual chance of flooding below that of Zone 3 but greater than 1000 to 1
(0.1%). Flood Zone 1 (Little or no risk) identifies areas of land with an annual chance of flooding of less than 1000 to 1
(0.1%). Flood zone areas are identified by the Environment Agency and are subject to regular review.
Fly Tipping
The illegal and uncontrolled disposal of waste to land.
Gasification
A means of recovering energy from waste. The process converts carbon-containing material into a gas which can be used as a
fuel to generate electricity or steam.
General Industrial Use
Areas identified for industrial development, including B2 uses.
Groundwater
An important part of the natural water cycle and present within underground strata known as aquifers. Groundwater has a substantial
strategic significance in public water supply. It also provides supplies for private, industrial and agricultural abstractors
who cannot obtain, or prefer not to use, water from the public mains.
Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC)
A facility provided by the Waste Disposal Authority which is available to the public to deposit waste which cannot be collected
by the normal household waste collection round. Also referred to as Civic Amenity Site or Household Waste Disposal Compound.
Incineration
The controlled burning of waste. The fuel used in incinerators is usually MSW, but could include other carbon based waste
streams. Energy may also be recovered from incineration in the form of heat. This process leaves an ash residue which can
be recycled and/or used in the construction industry.
Integrated Pollution Prevention Control (IPPC)
Designed to prevent or reduce pollution by integrating permitting processes based on the application of best available techniques
(BAT). It gives priority to prevention at source, and ensuring prudent management of natural resources, in compliance with
the "polluter pays principle". The Directive covers emissions to air, land & water. See PPC.
Kerbside Collection
The collection by the local authority of recyclable goods directly from households, or occasionally industrial or commercial
premises.
Landfill
The controlled deposit of waste to land.
Landfill Directive
Set of European Community Rules on landfill to ensure high standards for disposal and to stimulate waste prevention, via recycling
and recovery.
Landfill Gas
The gas generated in any landfill site accepting biodegradable organic matter. It consists of a mixture of gases, predominantly
methane and carbon dioxide. It has an offensive odour due to traces of organosulphur compounds, and is explosive.
Leachate
Water which seeps through a landfill, and by doing so extracts substances from the deposited waste. Physical and chemical
characteristics of the leachate depend on the fill materials and the degradation process taking place in the landfill. Leachate
is polluting substance.
Life Cycle Assessment
A method for evaluating the materials, inputs and emissions relating to the whole life of a product from raw material acquisition,
through manufacture, distribution, retail, use, re-use, maintenance, recycling and waste management. Environmental impacts
and costs are taken into account. Life-cycle analysis involves the collection of data to produce an inventory, life-cycle
assessment to the evaluation of the output.
Material Recycling Facility (MRF)
A specialist plant which separates, processes and stores recyclables which have been collected either separately from waste
(a "clean" MRF) or unsorted (a "dirty" MRF).
MWMSCD
The Municipal Waste Management Strategy for County Durham.
PPC - Pollution, Prevention and Control
The new regime which implements the EU Directive on integrated pollution prevention and control
Precautionary Principle
Taking action now to avoid possible environmental damage when the scientific evidence for acting is inconclusive but the potential
damage could be great.
Previously Developed Land (PDL)
Land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure (excluding agricultural or forestry buildings), and associated fixed
surface infrastructure. The definition covers the curtilage of the development. Previously developed land may occur in both
built-up and rural settings. The definition includes defence buildings and land used for mineral extraction and waste disposal
where provision for restoration has not been made through development control procedures.
The definition excludes land and buildings that are currently in use for agricultural or forestry purposes, and land in built-up areas which has not been developed previously. Also excluded is land that was previously developed but where the remains of any structure or activity have blended into the landscape in the process of time (to the extent to which it can reasonably be considered as part of the natural surroundings), and where there is a clear reason that could outweigh the re-use of the site – such as its contribution to nature conservation – or it has subsequently been put to an amenity use and cannot be regarded as requiring redevelopment.
Producer Responsibility Obligations
Requires those producing and selling goods to take greater responsibility for those goods at the end of the products life.
Priority Habitats and Species.
Priority habitats and species benefit from a higher degree of protection than other habitats and species protected under the
Habitats Directive and are indicated by an asterisk in Annexes I and II of the Habitats Directive.
Proximity Principle
Waste should generally be disposed of as near as possible to its place of production.
Reclamation
Operations which are designed to return the area to an acceptable environmental condition, whether for the resumption of a
former land use or for a new use. The term ‘Reclamation’ includes both restoration and aftercare as defined in the 1990 Act.
Reclamation can also include events which occur prior to some operations taking place such as soil stripping etc.
Recovery
Value can be recovered from waste by recovering materials through recycling, composting, or recovery of energy. Energy can
be recovered from waste, through: incineration; use as a fuel substitute; materials recovery (with energy released as a by-product;)
and, waste disposal (with fuel recovered as a by-product of the process).
Recyclable
Material with potential to be recycled.
Recyclate
Materials collected for recycling.
Recycling
A means of recovering value from waste where materials which would otherwise become waste are separated collected and processed
into useable material or product.
Refuse Collection Vehicle (RCV)
A wagon used to collect waste.
Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF)
A fuel product produced from the combustible fraction of household waste.
Regional Self-Sufficiency
Most waste should be treated or disposed of within the region in which it is produced.
Regional Technical Advisory Body (RTAB)
Provides specialist advice on waste to Regional Planning Bodies on options and strategies for dealing with the waste that
needs to be managed within the region.
Restoration
The works carried out at a site to create a final landform, and replacement of soils, prior to commencement of aftercare.
Source Protection Zones
The Environment Agency has identified three groundwater Source Protection Zones. Zone 1 (Inner Source Protection); Zone II
(Outer Source Protection) and Zone III (Source Catchment). Zone I (Inner Source Protection) is located immediately adjacent
to the groundwater resource. It is designed to protect against the effects of human activity which might have an immediate
effect upon the source. This area is defined by a 50-day travel time from any point below the water table to the source and
as a minimum of 50 metres radius from the source. This 50 day travel time zone is based on the time it takes for biological
contaminants to decay. Zone II (Outer Source Protection) is larger than Zone 1 and is the area defined by a 400 day travel
time from any point below the water table to the source. The travel time is based upon that required to provide delay and
attenuation of slowly degrading pollutants. Zone III (Source catchment) covers the complete catchment area of a groundwater
source. All groundwater within it will eventually discharge to the source.
Sustainable Development
Development which meets the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Time Depth
The presence in a landscape of features surviving from many different periods of its history.
Transfer Stations
A place to which waste is delivered for sorting prior to transfer to a place for recycling, treatment or disposal.
Vermiculture
Process where waste is eaten and converted by worms.
Waste Collection Authority
Borough/District Councils: Durham City, Sedgefield, Easington, Wear Valley, Chester-le- Street, Teesdale, Derwentside. All
have a duty to collect household waste except in certain prescribed areas. They also have a duty to collect commercial waste
if requested to do so and may also collect industrial waste.
Waste Hierarchy
This is a theoretical framework which acts as a guide to waste management options which should be considered when assessing
the BPEO.
Waste Planning Authority
Durham County Council, responsible for ensuring that an adequate planning framework exists. They are required to prepare a
Waste Local Plan and also have responsibility for determining planning applications for waste management facilities.
Waste Disposal Authority
Durham County Council, responsible for providing disposal sites and HWRC’s.
Water Table
The top surface of the saturated zone within the aquifer.
Windrows
Open linear heaps of material associated with large scale centralised composting.