From today (1 April), the government has reduced the list of businesses entitled to use red diesel, which many operators use to power machinery (see letsrecycle.com story).
As the body representing Scottish SME waste management companies, RMAS says it wrote to the Scotland Office to ask for support to offset the impact of the ban to ensure the sector could carry out work in support of government net zero targets.
This included a request to allow waste management companies to continue using red diesel until viable fuel alternatives are “in place”, as businesses in the agriculture, horticulture, fish farming and forestry sectors can. However, the organisation says its pleas fell on deaf ears.
A long-time critic of the policy, RMAS claims the ending of the red diesel exemption, combined with a rise in the price of oil due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, will drive up operating costs for its member companies by more than 15%.
RMAS says its members face additional fuel expenses of up to £400,000 per year.
The organisation also suggests the ending of the exemption will encourage illegal operators to undercut compliant businesses through fly-tipping and other forms of illegal waste dumping.
Our appeal to the UK government has fallen on deaf ears
- Brian Ritchie, RMAS
‘No joke’
Brian Ritchie, chair of RMAS, said: “Today may be April Fool’s Day but unfortunately the red diesel ban is no joke.
“We’re extremely disappointed that our appeal to the UK government over its flawed plans seems to have fallen on deaf ears.”
Mr Ritchie added: “The Scotland Office has failed to recognise the important role our members play in helping deliver government net zero targets.
“There also appears to be a lack of understanding from ministers that resource and waste management companies were exempted from any additional funding support measures given to the mining, quarry, and construction sectors to help develop new fuel alternatives.”
Alternatives
One major concern of the waste sector is how quickly alternative electric-powered equipment and more efficient diesel machines can be developed.
Mr Ritchie said there were few viable fuel alternatives, meaning his organisation’s members would be unable to transition away from diesel “in the foreseeable future”.
He said using white diesel would mean his members would need to pass major cost rises on to consumers, “adding to the current cost of living crisis”.
Mr Ritchie added that also threatened the “viability” of some businesses, directly impacting on the level of waste management services and Scotland’s environmental stewardship.
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