The UK Government has confirmed its landfill tax strategy in the recent Autumn Budget.
The centrepiece of this strategy involves scrapping plans to merge the two existing rates into a single rate by 2030.
Instead, both rates will continue to rise annually by the same cash amount, maintaining the current structure.
Applying to England and Northern Ireland, the main updates see a change in the standard rate from £126.15 per tonne to £130.75 and a change in the lower rate from £4.05 per tonne to £8.65.
These new rates will apply from April 2026.
The decision follows strong industry feedback warning that a single-rate system would disproportionately impact projects involving inert waste, such as soil and stone.
By retaining the two-rate structure, the government aims to balance environmental goals with economic growth.
Landfill tax remains a cornerstone of the UK’s waste strategy, incentivising recycling and reducing landfill reliance.
However, rising costs must be paired with stronger enforcement against illegal dumping and investment in recycling infrastructure.
The Welsh Government has announced it plans to increase the standard rate of LDT for 2026-27 by forecast Retail Price Index (RPI) and to maintain the lower rate and the unauthorised disposals rate at five per cent and 150 per cent of the standard rate respectively.
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