Scotland unveils plan for "zero-waste society"

The Scottish government could ban recyclable materials such as glass, metals, textiles and wood from being sent to landfill, under new plans designed to help Scotland meet its goal of becoming one of the world's first "zero-waste societies".

The proposals, which would effectively extend the ban on sending hazardous waste to landfill to cover several new materials, feature in a new draft plan that was published yesterday and is now subject to a 12-week consultation period.

The plan also includes proposals for new incentives to encourage businesses to increase recycling rates, increased investment in recycling facilities and collection facilities, the creation of 2,000 new jobs in the waste and recycling industries, and the introduction of new targets for material re-use as well as recycling.

Environment secretary Richard Lochhead said the new plan would require a shift in the way that businesses and households regard waste. "This is a positive step in tackling Scotland's waste – viewing it as a resource rather than a problem," he said. "There are major economic benefits, as well as environmental gains, to be had, including creating thousands of jobs and new business opportunities."

He added that the plan, which will be formally adopted next year following the completion of the consultation period, would particularly focus on reducing waste across the private sector. "Reducing waste is good for business, as well as for the environment, as it reduces costs," he said. "We need to do more to tackle all types of commercial waste."

Scotland has already met its EU target to send no more than 1.32 million tonnes of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill by 2010, but is facing a series of daunting targets to ensure that half of municipal waste is recycled or composted by 2013 and 60 per cent is diverted from landfill by 2020.

In related news, renewable energy firm ENER-G announced this week that it has secured a deal with Scottish Borders Council to install a 1MW landfill gas-capture project at Easter Langlee Waste Disposal site near Galashiels, Scotland.

The company said the project would deliver green energy to more than 1,000 homes while cutting annual methane emissions equivalent to about 30,000 tonnes of CO2.
"The council is effectively turning a liability into an asset and the income will depend on electricity output," said Hugh Richmond, managing director of ENER-G Natural Power. "We will be using two engines with a total rated capacity of 800kW minimum, and this capacity may be increased if there is sufficient gas production."