The Council seeks to ensure via its policies and planning decisions that the significant aggregate resources that occur within Carmarthenshire are provided in a sustainable way. Sites with planning permission for mineral extraction are regularly monitored to ensure accurate data is available to inform decision-making and to check compliance with planning conditions attached to the operations.

Minerals Planning Policy Wales 

This document sets out the land use planning policy guidance of the National Assembly for Wales in relation to mineral extraction and related development in Wales, which includes all minerals and substances in, on or under land extracted either by underground or surface working. Policy guidance for marine aggregates is not included in this minerals planning policy guidance.

Minerals Technical Advice Note (MTAN) 1: Aggregates

This sets out detailed advice on the mechanisms for delivering the policy for aggregates extraction by mineral planning authorities and the aggregates industry.  It should be read in conjunction with Minerals Planning Policy Wales', which sets out the general policies for all mineral development.

Minerals Technical Advice Note (MTAN) 2: Coal

A second consultation on MTAN2 ended on 23 May 2008.  The finalised document is expected to be published by the Welsh Assembly Government in due course.

Interim Marine Aggregates Dredging Policy

Marine Aggregates Dredging Policy, (IMADP) is an interim document that forms a part of the integrated strategy for the supply of fine aggregates to South Wales.  The provision of dredged aggregates to South Wales is considered in the context of Minerals Technical Advice Note (Wales) 1: Aggregates; ensuring that supply is managed in a sustainable way and maximising the use of secondary and recycled aggregates.

Waste

The Council is working towards the achievement of targets set out at European, National and Regional level for the reduction of the amount of waste being diverted to landfill. Policies in the Unitary Development Plan for Carmarthenshire generally build upon the framework provided by EU Directives, National and Regional Guidance and promote a waste hierarchy of reduction, re-use, recovery and disposal to landfill only as a last resort.
 
Existing waste sites are regularly monitored to assess landfill capacity remaining and to check compliance with planning conditions attached to the operations.

Technical Advice Note (TAN) 21 - Waste

This guidance note provides advice about how the land use planning system should contribute to sustainable waste resource management.   Wise About Waste: The National Waste Strategy for Wales deals with matters beyond the scope of this guidance in providing a framework within which Wales can reduce the amount of waste it produces and deal with waste, which has been produced in a more sustainable manner.  This document has been prepared in parallel with the Wales Waste Strategy in the full knowledge of the likely issues emerging in the Strategy.

Wise About Waste: The National Waste Strategy for Wales

Promotes a number of actions to improve the management of waste in Wales. These include measures to increase the use of recycled and composted materials by businesses and the public sector in Wales, a public sector waste minimisation campaign, an education campaign to raise awareness and understanding across Wales of the need to manage waste in a more environmentally friendly manner. It also includes moves to establish a Centre of Excellence in Waste Research amongst further and higher education institutions in Wales.

Regional Waste Plan for the South West Wales Region

This Plan provides a statement on how the land use planning system within the South West Wales Region will make adequate future provision for waste management facilities.

All eight Local Planning Authorities in the Region have now endorsed the South West Wales Regional Waste Plan (RWP) 1st Review (August 2008) and the Plan has been submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government for Agreement.  The Document now becomes a strategic framework for the preparation of Local Development Plans and a material consideration in the development control process.