Delays to major projects aimed at converting waste to energy or fuel are the greatest threat to the UK achieving its 2013 European landfill diversion target and incurring a £140M fine, says the Audit Commission.

A new report, Well disposed: Responding to the waste challenge, says the UK is able to meet the Landfill Directive target for 2013. But delaying existing, major, £20M-plus projects by just two years would see England exceed its allocation by 13% and incur £140M in penalties.

‘We must keep up the pressure to reduce, reuse and recycle,’ said commission chairman, Michael O’Higgins. ‘But, if we are to avoid being heavily fined for failing to meet the 2013 target, then we must also push ahead with treatment plants which are in the pipeline.’

The report says councils are planning to introduce enough recycling and treatment capacity to divert 10Mt a year of biodegradable waste from landfill by 2020, but procuring a major waste facility typically takes at least seven years.

Some waste disposal authorities expect to recycle more than half their waste by 2020, and most expect to generate electricity from waste or its by-products, but few expect minimisation to reduce waste totals significantly.

The Directive’s 2010 targets are likely to be met, but those for 2013 and 2020 could be knocked off course by major project delays. Those councils which have new facilities could benefit by up to £5M in 2013, while those which miss targets face £2M bills. Few councils generate enough waste to justify a waste-to-energy plant large enough to reach the highest efficiency, the report found.