Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations

Aerobic "In the presence of oxygen."

Aftercare Steps necessary to bring restored land up to the required standard for either agriculture, forestry or amenity - usually over a 5 year period.

After-Use The ultimate use after waste disposal sites are reclaimed.

Aggregates Sand, gravel, crushed rocks and other bulk materials used by the construction industry.

Agricultural Classification The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food grading system based on the degree to which soil, relief and climate impose long term limitations on agricultural land.

Grade 1: Land with minor or no physical limitations to agricultural use.

Grade 2: Land with some minor limitations which exclude it from Grade 1.

Grade 3: Land with moderate limitations (subdivided into 3a, good quality agricultural land, and 3b, moderate quality agricultural land).

Grade 4: Land with severe limitations.

Grade 5: Land with very severe limitations.

Agricultural Grades 1,2 & 3a Agricultural land defined by Government policy as the best and most versatile to be protected where possible from irreversible loss or damage. This land is an important national non-renewable resource for future generations.

Agricultural Waste A general term used to cover animal excreta, litter, straw waste, carcasses and silage liquors.

Anaerobic "In the absence of oxygen."

Ancient Woodland Sites which have had a continuous woodland cover since at least 1600 AD to the present day and have only been cleared for underwood or timber production.

Aquifer A permeable geological stratum or formation that is capable of both storing and transmitting water in significant amounts.

Area of Search An area in which certain specified forms of development are likely to be acceptable. It is not, however, expected that the entire area will be suitable. Areas of search are generally used where there is insufficient information to be able to allocate specific sites.

Bentonite A clay which is believed to result from the decomposition of volcanic ash. It is highly impervious and can be used to line and cap waste disposal sites. Major commercial sources occur in the western USA and Continental Europe.

Biodegradation The breakdown of materials by the action of micro-organisms.

Biodiversity Biological diversity, or the variety of life. This refers to all wild species and habitats which support them. The Biodiversity approach acknowledges the continuing importance of protected areas and stopping the loss of wildlife from the wider environment.

Bio-gas Gas formed by anaerobic digestion of organic materials. Typical composition 62% methane, 38% carbon dioxide. Can be used as a fuel for heat and/or power generation.

Biological and Geological Sites (Alert Schedule)

As defined by the Nottinghamshire Biological and Geological Records Centre, Wollaton Hall, Nottingham.

Grade 1 (County/Regional) Sites
These represent the most important examples of their particular habitat or rock-type extant at the time of grading. The destruction of any of these alert sites would be a major loss to the county.

Biological Grade 1 alert sites include the best examples of the major semi-natural habitat types in the county, and so tend to be extensive and long-established, and often have a history of management conducive to a high wildlife interest. They usually also contain important communities of rare or notable species.

Geological Grade 1 alert sites include the best examples of each of the major rock-types in the county, type sections and localities which have scientific importance either as fossil sources or as exposures of particular structural features.

Grade 2: (District) Sites
Biological Grade 2 alert sites usually demonstrate the characteristic association of the particular habitat type that they represent, and may also contain rare and notable species.

Geological Grade 2 alert sites are usually good representatives of their type but lack the particular characteristics of the higher grade sites.

The destruction of any of these alert sites would be a major loss to the district in which they occur.

Biologically Stabilised The state where a system has completely degraded its nutrient source biologically to produce an inactive medium which is no longer capable of supporting growth.

Birdstrike The risk presented by birds being attracted to waste disposal sites close to airports or airfields. Collisions between flocks of birds and aircraft are a serious threat to aviation safety.

Borehole A hole drilled outside a disposal site in order to obtain water samples and to monitor for landfill gas migration.

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) A measure of the total amount of chemically oxidizable material present in liquid.

Civic Amenity Waste A sub-group of household waste, normally delivered by the public direct to sites provided by the Waste Disposal Authority. Consists generally of bulky items such as beds, cookers, bottles and garden waste.

Clinical Waste Waste consisting wholly or partially of human/animal tissue, drugs, dressings, syringes, medicinal products, and other surgical equipment, being waste which, unless rendered safe, may be hazardous to persons coming into contact with it. It includes any other waste arising from medical, nursing, dental, veterinary, pharmaceutical or similar practices, which may present risks of infection.

Colliery Spoil The waste shales and clays removed from coal during processing (normally from deep-mined coal).

Commercial Waste Waste arising from premises used wholly or mainly for trade, business, sport, recreation or entertainment, excluding household or industrial waste.

Construction/Demolition Waste Derives from the construction, repair, maintenance and demolition of buildings and structures. It mostly includes brick, concrete, stone plaster, clay, subsoil and topsoil, but it can also contain quantities of wood from doors, windows and joists and also metal from pipes and roof trusses.

Controlled Waste This comprises household, industrial, commercial and clinical wastes, etc., which require a Waste Licence for treatment, transfer or disposal. The main exempted categories comprise mine, quarry and farm wastes. Radioactive and explosive wastes are controlled by other legislation and procedures.

Countryside Appraisal In 1990 Nottinghamshire County Council decided to carry out a detailed appraisal of the county's countryside. This work was undertaken by the Council's Countryside Group, located within the Department of Planning & Economic Development. The project involved the collation of a wide range of environmental data and a systematic landscape assessment of the county. The results have been used to underpin the Department's work in landscape protection, landscape conservation and management, nature conservation, environmental appraisal, development control and the formulation of statutory and non-statutory plans. The Department's Geographical Information System has played a vital role in storing and analysing the Countryside Appraisal research information. It is now being utilised by researchers and decision makers for a variety of other applications and uses, within the Council, and by the Council in partnership with a range of other organisations.

The aim of the Countryside Appraisal project has been to provide both a detailed information base and strategic overview of the county's rural environment, around which environmental planning, landscape management and other decisions can be made. The Council is seeking to promote an integrated approach to landscape protection and landscape conservation, drawing together the efforts and resources of the planning system, local authorities and all the major organisations in the landscape field.

The main components of the countryside Appraisal are:

1. The Mature Landscape Areas Study

This study identified areas of mature landscape containing features such as mature deciduous woodland, intact field patterns (including ancient species rich hedgerows), permanent grassland, heathland, parkland, and mature river/stream courses with established riparian features. Policies are successfully being included in local plans to protect Mature Landscape Areas from major forms of development. The MLA concept has been supported by inspectors at a number of recent local plan public inquiries.

2. Countryside Character Assessment

A major component of the Countryside Appraisal was a comprehensive landscape character assessment study, based on guidelines developed by the Countryside Commission. This forms part of the Commission's Countryside Character Programme - a national initiative to capture and express the character of the English landscape. The character assessment seeks to understand the factors that make one area distinct from another, by a structured examination of geology, topography, soils, vegetation cover and the influence of human exploitation of the land. The assessment involves the classification and description of the landscape into a series of Regional Character Areas and Landscape Types. The forces and pressures for change within each landscape are also assessed to build an understanding of how ‘tolerant’ particular landscapes are to accept future change. This leads to the development of a series of management strategies and key recommendations for each landscape type, along with detailed guidelines for the management of the various features and components that are found in each area.

Cover Material used to cover wastes tipped at a disposal site. Daily cover is used at the end of each working day to prevent odours, wind-blown litter, and insect or rodent infestation. The final cover is the layer, or layers, of material placed on the surface of the disposal site during its reclamation.

Crushed Concrete Demolition waste including concrete and brick which is crushed and re-used as an aggregate for construction processes.

Crushed Rock Hard rock, most commonly limestone and granite, which has been quarried, fragmented and graded for use as aggregate.

Decomposition Breakdown of matter into more simple chemical forms. Decomposition may be caused by physical, chemical or micro-biological action.

Derelict and Degraded Land Land so damaged by industrial or other development that it is incapable of beneficial use without treatment. This covers disused or abandoned land requiring restoration works to bring it into use or to improve its appearance. It does not include land with derelict appearance from natural causes such as marshland, mud flats or sand dunes, neglected woods or farmland, waste-land, generally land formerly affected by development but which, with time, has blended into the landscape. (Definition adopted by Department of the Environment).

Desulphogypsum A by-product of the flue gas desulphurisation process which reacts limestone with sulphur dioxide to produce gypsum and carbon dioxide. This normally takes place at coal fired power stations.

Dioxins A group of compounds with the chemical name of "Polychlorinated Dibenzo-Para-Dioxins". They have no industrial use, being formed as trace by-products in combustion and other high temperature processes involving chlorine and organic compounds, including waste incineration. They have differing levels of toxicity.

Employment Sites Employment sites are defined in the District Council's Local Plans for various business and industrial uses.

Exhaust Gases The gases that emerge from the combustion chamber of an incinerator, before they have passed through all the stages of the gas-cleaning system.

Floodplain All land adjacent to a watercourse over which water flows in times of flood or would flow but for the presence of flood defences. The limits of floodplains are defined by the peak water level of the 1 in 100 year return period flood or the highest known water level, whichever is the greatest.

Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) Process by which emissions from coal-fired power stations are treated to remove sulphur content. Resulting by-product known as desulphogypsum (also see) and can be used to make plasterboard.

Furnace Bottom Ash (FBA) This is produced by the agglomeration of hot ash particles which fall to the bottom of a coal fired power station or an industrial furnace. FBA accounts for 20 - 25% of power station ash (PFA accounts for 75 - 80% (also see)). Sold for use as an aggregate in block making.

Gasification The production of gaseous fuels by reacting hot carbonaceous materials with air, steam or oxygen.

Gas Migration The movement of gas from the wastes within a disposal site to adjoining strata, or emission into the atmosphere.

Greenhouse Effect The warming of the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere due to gases such as carbon dioxide and methane (greenhouse gases) which form a barrier to infra-red radiation from the Earth.

Groundwater Water associated with soil or rocks below the ground surface, but is usually taken to mean water in the saturated zone.

Hardcore Heavy material used in road foundations.

Hazardous Waste Hazardous Waste is not defined in UK or Welsh Law and is a general term for waste that would pose a hazard to health or the environment if improperly managed. The term is often coupled with “difficult wastes”.

Heavy Metals A general term used to cover the metals for which standards are set for emissions to air from incinerators: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, thalium and tin.

Hectare 1 Hectare = 10,000 square metres or 2.471 acres.

Household Waste Otherwise known as "domestic waste", consists of waste arising from a private dwelling or residential home, or from premises forming part of an educational establishment, or part of a hospital or nursing home (excluding clinical waste).

Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) Are facilities to which the public may bring domestic waste of any type, other than waste arising in the course of a business, for free disposal. They are open, normally, 7 days a week. Where possible, waste is sent to be recycled or re-used after being sorted. The remaining waste is sent for disposal.

Hydrogeological Characteristic Characteristics relating to flow of water through rock eg permeability, transmissivity, porosity etc.

Industrial Waste Is waste from any factory within the meaning of the 1981 Factories Act, and from any premises occupied by any industry under national ownership, excluding mines and quarries. Certain chemical wastes, wastes arising from the breeding and boarding of animals, scrap metal or wastes from dredging operations have been re-classified as industrial waste.

Inert Waste Waste which, when deposited into a waste disposal site, does not undergo any significant physical, chemical or biological transformations and which complies with the criteria set out in Annex III of the EC Directive on the Landfill of Waste.

Landfill Gas A mixture of flammable and asphyxiating gases produced by the anaerobic breakdown of biodegradable wastes in a landfill site. Principal constituents are methane 63.8%, carbon dioxide 33.6% and nitrogen 2.4%.

Leachate Liquor formed by the action of water percolating through soil, waste or rock. It may contain substances which would pollute groundwater.

Licensed Site A waste disposal or treatment facility which is licensed under the Environmental Protection Act for that function.

Local Nature Reserve Under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, local authorities can create and manage local nature reserves (LNRs). Any site offering special opportunities for people to see, learn about and enjoy wildlife may qualify as an LNR as long as the site is in the local authority's control.

Lowland Heathland Sites which include areas with heather species in the vegetation and/or areas of acidic grassland with scattered plants of oak, birch, bracken, gorse or broom. (Definition adopted by the Nottinghamshire Heathland Forum.)

Mineral Rock or other material which has a commercial value for which it may be extracted. (A planning, not a geological, definition.)

Minerals Planning Guidance Notes (MPGs) Government Policy Statements on a variety of minerals/waste planning issues to be taken as material considerations, where relevant, in deciding planning applications.

Natura 2000 Collective title for a network of internationally designated nature conservation sites defined under Article 3 of the European Habitats Directive. The network comprises Special Areas for Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs).

PCBs A group of compounds with the name "Polychlorinated biphenyls". These chlorinated hydrocarbons were used as plasticizers and in transformer-cooling oils to enhance flame retardance and insulation. Their use was banned in 1979, but many old electrical components such as transformers and capacitors which contain PCBs still require attention. PCBs are a highly persistent bioaccumulative pollutant and require specialist disposal by incineration.

Permeable Used to describe natural or synthetic, materials through which gas or fluids have the ability to pass fairly freely. Permeability may be achieved by a material being either porous or pervious. It is usually expressed as the coefficient of permeability. This property is not an absolute, and a cut-off coefficient of permeability of 10-9 m/sec for water is often used to describe a landfill liner material as impervious. The coefficients of impermeability of materials for gases are likely to be greater. The opposite of permeable is impermeable.

Permeability Measure of the ability to transmit water.

Pervious A material is said to be pervious if it is permeable by virtue of mechanical discontinuities such as joints, fissures etc. The opposite of pervious is impervious.

Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs) Government Policy Statements on a variety of planning issues, to be taken as material considerations, where relevant, in deciding planning applications.

Porous A material is said to be porous if it possesses cavities within it which can contain a fluid or gas. The term 'porosity ratio' is given to the percentage of void space that a material contains. A porous material is not necessarily permeable, eg sandstones, sands and gravels are commonly both, but clay is porous but impermeable since it will absorb liquid but will not allow it to pass through. The opposite of porous is non-porous.

Potable Water Water of suitable quality for drinking.

Power Station Ash Comprises pulverised fuel ash (PFA) and furnace bottom ash (FBA) (also see).

Primary Aggregates Naturally occurring sand and gravel (both land won and marine dredged) and crushed rock (igneous, limestone, sandstone/ gritstone) used for construction purposes.

Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA) Ash produced by combustion plants such as power stations and large industrial boilers which use powdered coal as their main source of fuel. PFA is collected in the flues of the combustion plants by mechanical and electrostatic separators and is removed from the site as a dry powder by road vehicle or in a slurry state by pipeline for disposal or use as an aggregate in block making or as a lightweight bulkfill and in cement manufacture.

Putrescible Waste Organic matter which when deposited at a disposal site will decompose to produce leachate and landfill gas.

Pyrolysis The heating of organic waste matter in a closed environment (in the absence of air), to produce combustible gases, a low-calorific value solid fuel, and a mixture of oils and liquid effluent.

Reclamation Operations associated with the disposal of waste designed to return the area to an acceptable environmental state, whether for the resumption of the former land-use or for a new use. It includes restoration, aftercare, events which take place before and during disposal operations, such as soil handling, and operations after disposal such as contouring or the planting of trees.

Recovery A product of value recovered from waste materials. Includes recycling, energy recovery and compost.

Recycling The collection and separation of waste materials which are processed to form the same or different useful product. Normally the process can be repeated.

Re-use Waste materials which are re-used without any processing other than cleaning (e.g. milk bottles).

Refuse Derived Fuel Fuel source utilising either loose combustible waste eg shredded paper and plastics, or that waste compressed into pellet form. Other refuse derived fuels include those based on rice husks, sawdust and straw.

Regional Planning Guidance Notes (RPGs) Government Policy Statements of a regional context to be taken as material considerations, where relevant, in deciding planning applications.

Restoration Takes place after operations for the disposal of waste have been completed, the process of using any or all of the following: subsoil, topsoil and soil-making material.

RIGS Regionally Important Geological Sites. These comprise sites of educational, research and aesthetic importance. The RIGS scheme is promoted by English Nature and is organised locally by the Notts Wildlife Trust, with representations from Local Planning Authorities, British Geological Survey and other relevant organisations.

SINC Site of Importance for Nature Conservation as identified by Nottinghamshire Biological and Geological Records Centre as biological and geological sites graded into two categories according to their degree of importance. All these designated sites are non-statutory and are subject to guidance in PPG9 on Nature Conservation.

SSSI A Site of Special Scientific Interest is defined under Section 28 of the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act as an area of land of special interest by reason of its flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features. English Nature is responsible for the selection of SSSIs.

Saturated Zone Zone of aquifer where all fissures and pores contain water, i.e. below the water table.

Scheme of Treatment Is a detailed programme of proposed archaeological investigation and/or mitigation, submitted by a developer as part of a planning application.

Secondary and Recycled Aggregates Mining, industrial and power station waste by-products and processed construction and demolition wastes, used for construction purposes. These include china clay sand, colliery minestone, slate wastes, power station ashes and blast furnace slags, concrete, brick, and asphalt road planings.

Sewage Sludge The residue produced at a sewage treatment works that is not discharged with the treated effluent. This includes the sludge resulting from the treatment of raw sewage and waste from septic tanks and cesspools.

Site Licence Application An application made under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to keep, treat or dispose of waste material. A licence cannot be granted until planning permission for the development has been granted.

Soakaway System for allowing water or effluent to soak into the ground, commonly used in conjunction with septic tanks.

Special Area for Conservation Is intended to protect the habitats of threatened species. The aim is to contribute to biodiversity through the conservation of natural habitats, wild fauna and flora of European Community importance.

Special Waste Is defined in the Special Waste Regulations 1996 using the European waste catalogue and waste characteristics. A list of European Hazardous Wastes and the hazardous properties can be found in the DETR’s Circular 6/96

Strata Layers of rock, including unconsolidated materials such as sand and gravels.

Sustainable Development Development which is sustainable is that which can meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Tonnes 1 Tonne = 1,000 Kg or 2,204 lb (0.984 tons)

Totter Person employed at a waste site to sort and separate out any material which may be recycled or re-used.

Waste Is the wide ranging term encompassing most unwanted materials. It is subdivided into several classes, defined by the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Waste includes any scrap material, effluent or unwanted surplus substances or article which requires to be disposed of because it is broken, worn out, contaminated or otherwise spoiled. Explosives are excluded.

Waste Management Facilities All facilities for the treatment, management and disposal of waste. To include household waste recycling centres, mini-recycling centres, material recovery facilities, incinerators, commercial composting sites, waste transfer stations, landfill sites, scrapyards, landspreading, recycling facilities, pyrolysis and gasification plants and sewage treatment works.

Waste Transfer Station A site to which waste is delivered for sorting prior to transfer to another place for recycling treatment or disposal.

Water Table Top surface of the saturated zone within the aquifer.

Note about changes to Government Departments
Since the text for this plan was originally drafted, there have been a number of changes to Government Departments. The planning functions of the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) have now been transferred to the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR). The functions of the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) are now incorporated in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).