Council Directive 1999/31/ECShow full title

Article 13 U.K. Closure and after-care procedures

Member States shall take measures in order that, in accordance, where appropriate, with the permit:

(a)

a landfill or part of it shall start the closure procedure:

(i)

when the relevant conditions stated in the permit are met; or

(ii)

under the authorisation of the competent authority, at the request of the operator; or

(iii)

by reasoned decision of the competent authority;

(b)

a landfill or part of it may only be considered as definitely closed after the competent authority has carried out a final on-site inspection, has assessed all the reports submitted by the operator and has communicated to the operator its approval for the closure. This shall not in any way reduce the responsibility of the operator under the conditions of the permit;

(c)

after a landfill has been definitely closed, the operator shall be responsible for its maintenance, monitoring and control in the after-care phase for as long as may be required by the competent authority, taking into account the time during which the landfill could present hazards.

The operator shall notify the competent authority of any significant adverse environmental effects revealed by the control procedures and shall follow the decision of the competent authority on the nature and timing of the corrective measures to be taken;

(d)

for as long as the competent authority considers that a landfill is likely to cause a hazard to the environment and without prejudice to any Community or national legislation as regards liability of the waste holder, the operator of the site shall be responsible for monitoring and analysing landfill gas and leachate from the site and the groundwater regime in the vicinity of the site in accordance with Annex III.