16 Aug 2001 - 58/01

1. The SAHSU Report

SEPA has not been involved in the analysis of the results of the Small Areas Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU) study. It is a Government study and any questions on the health aspects and statistical analysis in relation to Scotland should be directed to the Scottish Executive (www.scotland.gov.uk). SEPA provided data for the report and will now consider the findings.

2. The Importance of the National Waste Strategy: Scotland

Scotland buries more than 90% of its waste in landfill sites, but this has a number of major disadvantages, including:

· we are throwing away millions of tons of valuable resources

· methane from landfill sites contributes to global warming

· landfill sites need careful management to prevent water pollution

Dumping the vast majority of our waste in landfill sites must come to an end soon, although it will take major changes in our culture and behaviour to achieve that. With the National Waste Strategy: Scotland, SEPA promoting better ways of dealing with waste:

1. keep waste to a minimum - don’t throw it away in the first place

2. re-use products and materials

3. recycle, compost or recover energy from waste, and only then...

4. dispose of any remaining residues to landfill sites

New and innovative solutions are needed as an alternative to landfill. These can and will involve initiatives as diverse as local community recycling schemes and multinational waste management companies investing in the latest technology.

As well as its role as Scotland’s official regulator, using its regulatory powers to help ensure that waste management facilities (including landfill sites) are properly managed, SEPA is co-ordinating the production of area waste plans throughout Scotland, as part of the National Waste Strategy. This is being done with local authorities, the waste industry, communities, not-for-profit organisations and others. SEPA also provides information and advice to help others achieve better waste management. The key message is that everyone has a part to play. As SEPA’s Chairman Ken Collins has said:

“Waste is not ‘someone else’s problem’ , we all produce it. Everything we throw away represents a reduction in the earth’s natural resources. The buzzword for that is ‘unsustainable’. To you and me it is common sense. None of us wants to waste money, nor would many of us be keen to have a landfill site on our doorstep. So what can we do?

“The National Waste Strategy sets out some of the solutions. Its main message is ‘Reduce, Re-use, Recycle’. It deals with waste management involving local authorities, waste companies, SEPA and other specialists.

“We ALL have a part to play, so get involved, talk to your Council about your local Waste Strategy Plan, support schemes which will allow your waste to be separated into different bins before it’s collected, and refuse to buy products which have excessive packaging.

ENDS

NOTES

1. PLANNING ISSUES:

SEPA is a statutory consultee on planning issues. The local authorities, in their role as planning authorities, are also key participants in the development of the National Waste Strategy: Scotland. Their policies on waste management issues should also be compatible with the Strategy objectives. All individual planning applications for waste developments (e.g. Landfill sites) must still be treated on their merits, having regard to the local impact on communities and the environment.

2. THE LANDFILL DIRECTIVE:

This directive (1999/31/EC) was agreed in Europe on 26 April 1999 and is currently being transposed into national legislation. The main aim of this Directive is to prevent or reduce as far as possible the negative effects of landfilling waste on the environment and human health and it will apply to all landfills licensed to accept waste on or after 16 July 2001.

The Landfill Directive will introduce some key changes to current UK landfill practice. These include:

1. The separation of landfills into three types: for only hazardous, non-hazardous or inert wastes.

2. The requirement to treat most wastes before disposal to landfill

3. A ban on the disposal of certain wastes to landfill, for example, liquid waste, certain hazardous wastes and tyres.

Operators of current landfills with a waste management licence will be required to apply for and be issued with a PPC permit in order to continue to operate.

3. The National Waste Strategy: Scotland is available here.

The report can be found at the Dept of Health Website