3.1 Introduction

Phase 1 delivery of the Area Waste Plan for the Lothian and Borders has been focussed on supporting the provision and enhancement of kerbside recycling collection systems, as well as the introduction of new and upgraded recycling centres and points.  All of these activities have been underpinned by implementation, at a local level, of waste awareness campaigns.  Data showing local authority recycling performance can be found on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) web site at http://www.sepa.org.uk/nws/data. 

Phase 2 delivery of the Area Waste Plan focuses on the need to treat and divert residual municipal waste from landfill in order to further complement the recycling and composting performance targets realised from Phase 1 activities and to ensure compliance with EU Landfill Directive targets.  Residual waste is that which remains following all practicable efforts to extract recyclable and compostable material from the waste stream to optimise AWP targets.

The key stages in determining the revised BPEO for Municipal Waste in Lothian and Borders are described in Lothian and Borders Strategic Environmental Assessment and BPEO Review documentation, consulted on in Summer 2007.  In developing the updated BPEO, Waste Strategy Area Group members were concerned to ensure an open and transparent process and were required to follow Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004 requirements. The updated BPEO has therefore been developed through the partnership working of SEPA and the WSAG. Through communication between these group members and the extensive consultation with other stakeholders (public, business, industry, community groups etc.) the content of this revised section of the Area Waste Plan was developed through an inclusive approach. This level of working with a range of key stakeholders continues to be at the heart of developing and implementing the Area Waste Plan.

Outputs of the SEA and BPEO Review consultations have been collated and are available on the L&B Area Waste Plan web pages http://www.sepa.org.uk/nws/areas/lothian_borders/index.htm