Planning applications for 'green' waste and recycling sites fall for second year running, according to data compiled by law firm EMW . The number of planning applications for 'green' recycling, energy from waste and composting facilities in the UK has fallen for the second consecutive year, according to government figures, giving rise to fears that council budget cuts could be impacting on the UK's future recycling infrastructure. In 2015/16, the number of planning applications lodged with local authorities for green waste sites fell by 20 per cent from 237 to 189, prompting concerns the UK's waste and recycling infrastructure could become over-stretched amid population increases in the coming years. Overburdening of the waste and recycling infrastructure in the UK is also likely to lead to greater reliance on older, less green and efficient methods for dealing with waste, such as landfilling, according to EMW, the commercial law firm which compiled the data. EMW said it defined greener, more environmentally friendly waste and recycling facilities as including composting sites, waste-to-energy plants, material recycling facilities (not including aggregates) and anaerobic digestion plants. James Geary, principle at EMW, explained that ongoing pressure on councils to deliver significant cost savings, coupled with applications being put on hold ahead of last year's EU referendum, are likely to have contributed to the fall in green waste site planning application numbers - a situation he said could make a significant dent in local authorities' commitment to delivering alternative energy. From 2010-2015, UK councils have had to find £20bn of savings overall amid cuts of 40 per cent in central government funding, while local authorities are also likely to face rising costs going forward due to rising pressures on local services and economic uncertainty. According to Geary, rising taxes have made the use of traditional waste management sites increasingly costly as landfill tax costs continue to rise - hitting £84.40 per tonne in 2016. "Budget cuts and Brexit have placed the UK's waste management sector in limbo," Geary said in a statement. "Continued investment in expanding and upgrading our waste management capacity to cope with growing demand and to meet increasingly stringent environmental protection targets is vital. These figures cast doubt on whether enough is being done." Geary called on policymakers and councils to re-evaluate existing subsidy arrangements to improve incentives and support for more efficient, environmentally friendly waste management facilities. "As the population continues to grow, ensuring a sustainable waste management sector is going to become more pressing - but also potentially more controversial - than ever. Building more new sites may not be popular with local residents, but investing in cleaner, greener technology may help to allay some of those concerns."