Each year the rate of landfill tax goes up on the 1st April and generally rises in line with the Retail Price Index. So, from this date the Tax rises to £126.15 per tonne.
So, who is responsible for paying the landfill tax to the government? The answer is the landfill site operator. Not all wood-waste is suitable for recycling. This waste often ends up going to landfill as it is not suitable for re-use.
The UK landfill tax has two primary rates: 1. Standard Rate: This applies to active or hazardous waste, such as general household, commercial, or industrial waste. As of 2024-2025, the standard rate is £103.70 per tonne, increasing to £126.15 per tonne in April 2025. Wood-waste comes under commercial or industrial waste as it is a waste from a manufacturing process.
As we know, industrial wood-waste comes in many forms from virgin timber through to MDF and MFC and also some coatings on the board Melamine or some other finish.
As wood-waste is a by-product of a wood machining process then the burning of the “waste” is regulated by the local Environmental Health department or the Environment agency. In Scotland SEPA is the controlling authority.
So, the operator has to pay £126.15 per tonne to the government out of what they charge to take wood-waste to landfill. In addition to the tax there is a “gate fee “this is variable across the country and there are approximately 540 registered landfill sites in the UK. The gate fee varies but can be £20 per tonne an additional cost is the transport cost which depends on how far the skip has to travel to get to a landfill site and back. An average hire is £240 for a 8 yard skip. The cost will be dependent on how many times you need it emptying per year. Many skip companies will only take extracted wood-waste (dusts) if they are bagged.
Will the UK run out of landfill sites? It is estimated that the UK has around six to eight years of landfill left. This has been the case since about 2010, and we haven’t run out yet!
Landfills are not the most environmentally responsible solution to waste and there are many better alternatives including waste to energy schemes.
DEFRA point out that the burning of woodstoves and open fires in a domestic situation gives off more particulate in the form of pm 2.5s and NOx than all of the traffic on the UK roads.
Burning wood-waste in a Ranheat automatically fed system with the correct choice of retort and grates meets the strict requirements of the MCPD for NOx and particulate.
With a Ranheat ceramic filter the particulate is reduced to 2mg/m3 against a limit of 60mg/m3 and flue gas recycling reduces the NOx significantly below the limits set by the MCPD.
For further information on all types and sizes of Industrial Woodburning equipment from 75 kW upwards contact Ranheat.
01604 750005
