Big change in how Scottish business waste managed

Scotlands forthcoming Zero Waste Regulations will have a profound impact on businesses and could represent the biggest change in how they manage their waste for a generation.

The comments, from WRAP chief executive Liz Goodwin, came this week (October 5) ahead of a policy statement next Friday (October 14) about what the final regulations which are due to be laid in December 2011 – will look like.

The Zero Waste Regulations will put key commitments made by the Scottish Government in its Zero Waste Plan (see letsrecycle.com story) into action. These include a requirement for the separate collection of key material streams such as food waste, restrictions on the inputs to energy-from-waste facilities and a ban on sending all biodegradable waste to landfill (see box below).

Importantly, the majority of the proposals cover all types of waste not just that produced by households, as has historically been the case.

Speaking at the Scottish Waste & Resources Conference 2011 in Glasgow, held in partnership by Zero Waste Scotland and CIWM, Dr Goodwin said: The incoming Zero Waste Regulations may provide the biggest change with regards to business waste for a generation. Our role is to lead the engagement with businesses around the regulations.

The change will be profound a greater impact perhaps than that which is happening with household recycling, she added.

At the event, Scottish Government officials who are working on its Zero Waste programme revealed that they would be publishing the governments response to the consultation on the regulations next week (October 14). A consultation on draft regulations was launched in February 2011, following an initial consultation in December 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Stuart Greig told letsrecycle.com: On October 14 we will issue a policy statement responding to the consultation on the draft regulations which will set out the shape of the final regulations.

Separate collections

On the issue of separate versus commingled collections, which is the subject of a Judicial Review hearing in England in December (see letsrecycle.com story), Mr Greig indicated that the Scottish Government would not be prohibiting the mixed collection of materials but was more focused on quality.

He said: The regulations will require separate collection but we will not specify that, for instance, metals cannot be collected with glass. The technology for separating materials from commingled material is improving all the time. We will be issuing guidance off the back of the regulations around what should happen to key materials. For instance food waste should go to AD, glass to remelt etc.