Forth Valley Waste Strategy Area Group

The Waste Strategy Area Group has overall responsibility for implementing the Area Waste Plan (AWP) in the Forth Valley . It was set up in autumn 1999 to:

• Develop the AWP for the Forth Valley
• Steer implementation of the National Waste Strategy at a local level
• Take responsibility for the ongoing development of the AWP
• Monitor progress in implementing the AWP.

The WSAG meets regularly. Its members are:

• SEPA (chair)
• Clackmannanshire Council
• Falkirk Council
• Stirling Council
• Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley
• Scottish Waste Awareness Group (SWAG)
• Scottish Water

Forth Valley Waste Strategy Area Coordinator

SEPA funds Waste Strategy Area Coordinators (WSACs) in each waste strategy area. In Forth Valley there is one WSAC – Eleanor Strain.

The WSAC’s job is to:

• Co-ordinate the work of the Waste Strategy Area Group
• Ensure that national projects and initiatives are integrated into the Area Waste Plan
• Report on the annual progress of AWP development.

Forth Valley Working Groups

Commercial & Industrial Waste Group

• Assimilate information / best practice models for replication in the area.
• Facilitate national programmes to work in the Forth Valley – draw in resources.
• Communicate between FV agencies to maintain an overview of all activity & identify synergies.
• Link to commercial waste companies: Disseminate information to assist in identifying new markets and opportunities.

Planning Group was formed in 2001 to focus on the tasks necessary to achieve actions laid down by the Area Waste Plan. Work to date includes:

• Assessing future requirement for municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill capacity and potential site provision
• Co-ordinating policies on waste within structure and local plans such that the provision of waste management facilities is considered on a Forth valley basis
• Developing guidance to encourage housing and commercial developments to incorporate construction and design features that promote waste reduction and material separation at source.

Technical Implementation Group was established in February 2003 to take the lead on:

• Providing MSW collection, treatment and disposal infrastructure in the Forth Valley
• Ensuring that waste management systems in the Forth Valley are integrated
• Achieving the targets for diverting biodegradable MSW from landfill set out in the Area Waste Plan.

Forth Valley Resource Efficiency Forum Steering Group was set up in May 2003 and is led by Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley (SEFV). It is working in partnership with key organisations across the area to develop an integrated framework for the provision of resource efficiency advice.

Forth Valley Nappy Network Steering Group was set up in August 2003 to provide information about washable nappies and to increase their availability as an activity to prevent household waste (i.e. disposable nappies). Forth Valley Real Nappy Network.

Waste Education Forum was established in September 2003 to facilitate intra-council waste and resource education in primary and secondary schools across the Forth Valley . Its priority is to link with the curriculum and Eco Schools initiative, while providing infrastructure and advice for improved recycling and composting within schools.

Social Enterprise Sector Forum was set up in February 2004 to establish formal links, improve communication and develop a Memorandum of Understanding between the sector and the Scottish Waste Awareness Group (SWAG). The social enterprise or community sector is defined as organisations that are run for a social or environmental purpose to deliver benefits to the community and not to generate profits for individuals or shareholders.

Forth Valley Strategic Option Appraisal Group was set up in May 2004 to investigate the potential provision of waste processing facilities across the Forth Valley and into other waste strategy areas.