Aberdeenshire, Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish Borders councils were all confirmed yesterday by the Scottish Executive as breaching their yearly limit on the landfilling of biodegradable municipal waste during 2005/06.
” Three councils did have excess landfill in 2005/06. The matter is now in under a review process. Any fines would be a matter for Scottish ministers. “
– Scottish Executive
Scottish ministers are now to consider whether to carry out promises to fine the failing councils for every tonne of biodegradable waste they sent to landfill above their permitted level.
According to the public register of landfill allowances, Aberdeenshire exceeded its landfill allowance of 74,496 tonnes by 6,596 tonnes. Dumfries & Galloway exceeded its 50,251 tonne allowance by 8,058 tonnes, while Scottish Borders council missed its 37,114 tonne target by 1,063 tonnes.
A spokesman for the Executive said: “Those three councils did have excess landfill in 2005/06. The matter is now in under a review process. Any fines would be a matter for Scottish ministers, the review will take some time but the process will come to some conclusion.”
All councils in Wales met their landfill allowance targets during 2005/06 (see letsrecycle.com story). Results for England are expected to be announced by Defra soon.
Fines
While councils in England face fines of 150 for every tonne of biodegradable waste they landfill above their limits, in Scotland councils have been told they face a fine of 10 per tonne for the 2005/06 year, 25 per tonne in 2006/07 and 50 per tonne in 2007/08.
This is because Scottish authorities are not allowed to buy or sell surplus allowances between themselves until 2008. From 2008/09, when trading is allowed as it is already in England, the fines are to rise to 150 per tonne.
Rather than a fine of around one million pounds – as the equivalent failure in England would require – Aberdeenshire and Dumfries & Galloway are facing fines of around 100,000, it is believed.
Dumfries
Dumfries & Galloway achieved the lowest recycling rates in Scotland according to figures issued earlier this month (see letsrecycle.com story) – just 10.4% of household waste was recycled in 2005/06.
The authority has said it was waiting for a new composting site and a new mechanical biological treatment plant to come on-line under its PFI contract with Shanks Group.
The plant, at Locharmoss on the outskirts of Dumfries, will use Italian technology to treat mixed household waste to remove recyclable material and compost remaining biodegradable waste. It will be able to treat 65,000 tonnes of waste each year, with about 40% of the waste turned into a solid recovered fuel. The facility began testing its Eco Deco technology in August.
Council convener Tommy Sloan said: “This new plant, together with the new composting facility at Galdenoch and the transfer station and recycling centre being built at Castle Douglas, means we can turn our mountain of waste into a molehill.”
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire council has been rolling out new recycling services across the county, but said its new alternate weekly collection scheme for waste and recycling did not start until October 2005. This meant the scheme's results was “not largely reflected in the overall figures for the year” the council said.
A spokesman told letsrecycle.com: “Nonetheless, we appreciate that still means a potential fine for the council of around 100,000, based on the total landfill figure of 81,902 tonnes. Although figures for 06/07 will take account of the new services in south Aberdeenshire, it will still be a further year before the full effect can be calculated.”
Rising recycling rates have been seen with the new services, with Aberdeenshire also increasing the range of recycling points available at recycling centres. The council has also seen a rise in the take-up of home composting bins and green cone digesters.
The council spokesman said: “The new services do mean a change of habits is required among residents, but the majority of people have stepped up to the challenge and we thank them for their continuing support.”
Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders council missed its landfill targets by just 1,000 tonnes, with a spokeswoman explaining to letsrecycle.com that the council had received its recycling funding from the Strategic Waste Fund later than other Scottish authorities.
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Despite the missed targets in 2005/06, the council said its recycling rates have surged in recent months through “huge support” from residents, and a 30% recycling rate was achieved in the second quarter of 2006.
The council's spokeswoman said: “We're hoping that we won't have to pay a penalty on the landfill allowance, because our recycling rate is now so good.”
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