SEPA issues letter on regulation compliance

Businesses in Scotland are expected to ensure separate collection of dry recyclables wherever practicable or face a 10,000 fine, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has warned.

In a letter written to commercial waste service providers last week (January 17), Gary Walker of the national operations waste unit said all reasonable steps should be taken to ensure separate collection of glass, metals, plastics, paper and card under the Waste (Scotland) Regulations.

The regulations, which came into effect on January 1 this year, impose strict rules on how businesses present their waste for collection, with enforcement also extending to businesses producing food waste of over 50 kg in urban areas (see letsrecycle.com story).

The letter clarifies that commingled collections of dry recyclables would be accepted as a minimum, but reiterates that commingled systems which include both paper and glass together must be avoided to reduce contamination.

The letter goes on to explain that the only reasonable excuse for failure to ensure collection of dry recyclables and food waste may occur when segregation or storage of material genuinely conflicts with other regulatory requirements such as food hygiene or fire regulations, and only in circumstances where there is no practical work-around.

In such circumstances, waste producers are told to seek a bespoke solution with their contractor only after all other options have been tested and discounted.

Expectations

Speaking to waste collection service providers, SEPA offers five mandatory expectations:

• Provide a commingled collection service in circumstance where separate collection does not appear practicable
• Avoid fully commingled systems which include both paper and glass
• Ensure commercial customers have a general waste bin for non-recyclable materials
• Ensure commercial customers know what materials are recyclable and how the material is to be presented for collection
• Undertake regular checks of recycling bins for contamination and provide feedback to customers in order to maintain or improve the quality of material collected

Reiterating SEPAs warning against contamination of materials, Mr Walker writes: SEPA would be concerned if non-recyclable material was deliberately and/or knowingly collection with commingled recyclables. Commingled services that involve the mixing of the target recyclables with other waste that cannot be recycled do not comply with the 2012 Regulations.

Survey

Commenting on how the regulations have been received since the New Year, Zero Waste Scotland director Iain Gulland said it was still early days, but he expected more feedback in a survey to be carried out by the organisation in March.

He said: Its too early to say how the new regulations are bedding in since they came into force on 1st January this year, but were focused on maximising this opportunity to harness more value from Scotlands resources and it is not therefore possible to be definitive about compliance.

Weve worked hard in the build-up, working in partnership with SEPA, local authorities, waste management companies and others, to inform business about the new regulations and the benefits of recycling more and reducing waste.

Mr Guilland added: In November, evidence Zero Waste Scotland received prior to the introduction of the regulations indicated that most businesses we surveyed said they were confident they would be compliant and for the new regulations coming into force. Well know more when our next survey reports in March.