Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway Area Waste Plan

1.6 Summary of Consultation Results

The consultation process undertaken within the Waste Strategy Area led to the highest response of any of the areas in Scotland. The consultation was undertaken in three parts, namely:

A Full Strategy Document entitled 'Shaping the Future of Waste Management in Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway'. This paper detailed the development of waste-management options for MSW in the area and contained the full text of the Draft Plan.

The second element was entitled 'Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway Draft Area Waste Plan Summary' This paper summarised the main document, laid out the action plan identified by the WSAG and set a detailed questionnaire consulting on aspects of the Plan's development and general attitudes towards waste management in the proposed plan (this questionnaire is hereafter referred to as the 'long summary questionnaire').

The third element was a very short document entitled 'Draft AWP Information Booklet' This summarised the implications of the proposed plan for each of the four council areas using non-technical terminology. It further included the action plan. With this document was a short two-page questionnaire called 'Do a Little – Change a Lot' (hereafter referred to as the 'short questionnaire') and this was used to assess public views on waste management or on aspects of the proposed plan.

1,136 responses to the short questionnaire and 80 responses to the long questionnaire received. The response across the Waste Strategy Area was assessed at between 5 and 16% for the long questionnaire and between 12 and 26% for the short version. The average responses to the questionnaires were:

(This is calculated in relation to the number of questionnaires sent out.)

Response is therefore regarded as being exceptionally high for this type of mailshot consultation. Further, given that a random sample from each of the authorities was chosen, we have a high level of confidence that the results are representative.

The results supported the BPEO proposal. They regarded this as practical and, although it was felt by several of the respondents that the variation was great enough to represent more than one BPEO, this disparity was generally considered to be reasonable since it allowed the authorities to take account of local situations and problems. It was emphasised, however, that this should not be used by the individual councils as a way of avoiding their obligations under the AWP.

The actual plan was likewise considered to be satisfactory. However, it was felt that a number of additional important points should be highlighted in the action plan, namely:

The consultations outcomes (Table 1.7) outlines the areas of concern raised by the consultation process and how the AWP seeks to address them.

Key points of concern	How these will be addressed
Length of timetable for completion of the work.	The complexity of undertaking what is a pioneering approach to waste management has affected the timescale for developing the plan.
The production of different solutions for each council area may be contrary to the partnership process (this is a risk identified by SEPA and the Scottish Executive). This gave rise to concern that, due to the different council options, not all the facilities described in the BPEO will be made available in each area.	This is a specific feature that the local authorities wished included in the BPEO. The key driving force behind this appears to be a desire not to be forced into a one size fits all type of solution. The local authorities are preparing a Joint Strategic Waste Fund bid to support the collection needs of the BPEO. It should be noted that the flexibility of the BPEO as well as economies of scale gained from different technologies mean that not all the facilities described will be needed in each area.
Lower levels of recycling than many respondents would have expected.	The final AWP has moved to set out the recycling levels more clearly. These are higher than were indicated in the Draft Consultation. As such this may alleviate some of the concerns raised.
Problems with access to recycling facilities.	There is a major shift towards the introduction of kerbside collection systems with all the authorities setting targets for the percentage of households to be provided with such services (this is the subject of the Joint Strategic Waste Fund bid referred).
Lack of detail in documentation.	This was primarily caused by the pressures of the key issues identified above. The local authorities – with the exception of Dumfries and Galloway – specifically sought to keep the information as open as possible whilst they sought to overcome those problems. The Final Waste Plan is much more detailed. It does give specific targets as well as identifying potential additional plant and capacity.
The respondents also indicated that the following additional points should also be included within the plan:
Increased use of Education Awareness Schemes.	Nothing is specifically spelt out in the AWP though this need is implicitly recognised in the action plan.
Incentives to participate.	A number of the action plans specifically set out the need to identify and involve appropriate stakeholders in different activities. The need to use incentives was not stated, though this would be implicit in any appraisal of such schemes.
Promotion of waste minimisation.	Nothing specific was spelt out in the consultation document other than the fact that all local authorities were committed to incorporating Waste Minimisation. The Action Plan does identify the need to develop waste minimisation strategies and these could be taken forward in future integrated waste management plans.
More action on packaging waste.	This was not specifically identified though is clearly implicit in the action requirements to increase recycling and reuse, etc.
Public education.	Again this was not specifically set out in the consultation although all local authorities gave a commitment to promoting educational issues. The action plan does cover the educational and promotional aspects of future activities.