New online maps guide the way through Scotland's waste landscape

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Information on Scotland's waste infrastructure is now more accessible than ever thanks to new interactive online maps published today (Tuesday 30 March) by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

The maps, at both national and local authority level, show the location of existing waste management facilities in Scotland, and contain underlying information on the amount and type of waste handled at each facility.

Scotland requires considerable investment in waste management infrastructure if it is to meet its Zero Waste Plan, Climate Change and Renewable Energy objectives.  The information contained in the maps will be used to inform SEPA responses to planning applications and development plan consultations. The Scottish Government, local authorities and developers will be able to use the information to identify future planning needs and business opportunities.  Members of the public can also access them for information purposes.

Three maps have been prepared at national level to show the following licensed and permitted waste management facilities:

  • landfills;
  • energy from waste and other incinerators;
  • pet cemeteries and pet crematoria. 

Individual maps have also been prepared showing all operational licensed and permitted waste management facilities within each local authority area.  A full list of the facility types shown on these maps are:

  • landfills;
  • energy from waste plant and other incinerators;
  • pet cemeteries/pet crematoria;
  • civic amenity sites (recycling centres);
  • metal recyclers (includes end of life vehicle and authorised treatment facilities);
  • transfer stations;
  • composting sites;
  • anaerobic digestion plant;
  • other treatment sites;
  • multiple activity sites (those operating more than one activity).

Campbell Gemmell, SEPA's Chief Executive, said: "These maps are important and useful on several levels. Not only will they allow SEPA to further streamline its planning advice but they will also provide a wealth of publicly available information on waste and recycling facilities. This will be a real asset for the other key players in Scotland's planning system, in national and local government, the development sector and local communities right across Scotland."

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

"Scotland is going through a waste revolution which is transforming the way we view our waste; reducing, reusing, recycling where we can and treating waste as a resource rather than a problem.

"These maps, teamed with local waste data, will enable local authorities to identify sites for the future green infrastructure required for Scotland to increase recycling and divert waste from landfill. They will also identify opportunities for businesses to invest in these required developments."

"We will shortly publish our Zero Waste Plan which will empower Scotland to meet our challenging recycling targets, ultimately making our country a cleaner, greener place to live. SEPA's infrastructure maps are a timely example of the building blocks needed to help Scotland on the road to becoming a zero waste society."

The new maps can be found here www.sepa.org.uk/waste/waste_infrastructure_maps.aspx

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Notes to editors

  • These maps are based on data in the National Capacity spreadsheet (2008) and show waste management facilities that hold a Pollution Permit and Control (PPC) permit or Waste Management Licence with SEPA.  The maps will be updated annually as the National Capacity work is published.  The National Capacity spreadsheet is available to download at www.sepa.org.uk/waste/waste_data/site_capacity__infrastructure/national_capacity_reports.aspx
  • The site activities in the maps are based on current information and are, to the best of our knowledge, correct. We are continually working to improve the accuracy of this information