Disposal of waste by landfill

Abstract

In any industrial minerals operation that involves surface workings, the problem of what to do with the site after extraction has to be faced (and as far as possible to be solved and properly costed) before submission of a planning application and commencement of work. Existing operations may be undertaken on the basis of permission granted historically with no provision for restoration and defined end use, but it is good practice (at the very least) to plan for an environmentally satisfactory conclusion to extraction. In heavily populated areas, the interests of local residents often require that a site is restored to permit recreational use, for water or other sports, or for nature conservation. Similarly, in rural areas restoration to previous agricultural or forestry use may be a requirement of planning permission.