subject: Scotland Sets Out Zero Waste Legislative Plans [print this page] The Policy Statement Zero Waste Regulations outlines the legislative framework the Government will use to underpin its ambitions for a Zero Waste Scotland, which were originally outlined last June in its Zero Waste Plan
A total ban on sending biodegradable waste to landfill by 2020 and a requirement for most local authorities to introduce food waste collections by 2015 are among the key requirements in the Scottish Governments Zero Waste legislative plans, published today (October 14).
The Policy Statement Zero Waste Regulations outlines the legislative framework the Government will use to underpin its ambitions for a Zero Waste Scotland, which were originally outlined last June in its Zero Waste Plan
Draft Zero Waste Regulations were published for consultation in January 2011, and todays document by and large follows through on the plans outlined in that document, with some changes to allow longer lead-in times for requirements such as councils having to collect food waste separately.
The key legislative requirements outlined in the document are
A ban on sending biodegradable waste to landfill to be introduced by 2020. Under the Landfill Directive, Scotland could send 1.26 million tonnes of bio-waste to landfill by 2020, but this would mean no material is disposed of in this way;
Councils to separately collect paper and card, plastic, glass and metals by 2013 from both households and businesses;
Councils in all except the most sparsely populated areas to introduce food waste collections by 2015. Councils must begin introducing the service by 2013;
Requirement for businesses to separate glass, metal, plastic, paper and card and food by 2013, with small businesses having until 2015 to separate out food;
Ban on sending materials collected for recycling to landfill or incineration by 2013 these materials can also not be mixed once collected;
A requirement for councils to make public statements about what happens to household waste;
Ban on non-domestic use of macerators and food waste disposal units which mean that food waste is discharged into the sewage system;
Requirement to remove dense plastics and metals from residual waste prior to incineration, taking effect in 2015.
Commenting on the plans, Scottish environment secretary Richard Lochhead said: This is a major step forward in the Scottish Government's drive towards zero waste. These measures will set Scotland on the path to becoming one of the highest performing recycling nations in Europe, realising the full potential of items we throw away.
"Our ban on municipal biodegradable waste going to landfill by 2020 is the first of its kind in the UK and one of the most ambitious of its kind in Europe, if not the world. It will make a significant contribution to reducing emissions from landfill and contribute to wider efforts to tackle climate change."
As part of its Zero Waste plans, Scotland is also aiming to reach a 70% recycling rate for all waste by 2025, and todays proposals aim to drive waste out of landfill and up the hierarchy, while ensuring the quality of outputs is maintained to help achieve that goal.
The regulations are expected to be laid before the Scottish Parliament in December 2011.
Separate collection
On the question of whether commingling recyclables should count towards the separate collection required by the revised Waste Framework Directive, the policy document states that commingling will be allowed, but only if it meets the requirements of the waste hierarchy and maintains quality standards.
It says: We intend to stipulate in the regulations that co-mingling [sic] of dry recyclables will only be permitted when the hierarchy is not undermined (e.g. glass separated for re-melt) and the outputs from the material recycling facility (MRF) are of comparable quality to that collected separately at kerbside.
However, it also details plans to allow the government to issue quality standards for recycling preferably on a voluntary basis, but potentially as legally-binding requirements if it is believed intervention is needed to drive improvements.
This differs from the stance south of the border, where Defra has stressed the importance of quality when material is collected commingled, but not suggested legislating to ensure specific quality standards are achieved.
Zero Waste Scotland
Commenting on todays policy document, the body tasked with support the delivery of the Scottish Governments aims, WRAP-run Zero Waste Scotland, said the changes required by the regulations could benefit Scotlands economy to the tune of 178 million.
Ian Gulland, director of Zero Waste Scotland, said: Moving towards zero waste will benefit Scotlands economy, creating jobs and market opportunities from valuable resources we currently discard as waste.
The proposed regulations will enable Scotland to get the highest possible value from resources within our economy.
Our research shows that additional costs associated with collecting and sorting more recycling will be offset by greater returns to be made from the sale and reprocessing of high quality materials and by lower residual waste management costs.
Mr Gulland said Zero Waste Scotland research had shown that measures such as separating key recyclables, banning specific wastes from landfill and restricting inputs to incinerators could together deliver total savings of 178 million.
