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Lothian and Borders Area Waste Plan |
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4.2 Local Framework For Non-Municipal Solid Wastes
The lack of comprehensive and reliable waste arisings data (i.e. waste types and quantities), a situation not unique to the Lothian and Borders area, has restricted the local planning process for non-MSW at this stage of developing the first Lothian and Borders Area Waste Plan. In order to plan effectively for the management of these wastes, a complete and robust data set will be required. The quarterly surveys of licensed waste management facilities by SEPA’s waste data team will, in time, deliver an improved database for all of Scotland’s waste. The Lothian and Borders WSAG will establish a programme
to fill this data gap locally as part of the national framework, to
ensure provision of sufficient forward capacity for the management of
these waste arisings. This will include appropriate consultations and
surveys with key local industry groupings over a period of time to measure
the arisings of all controlled wastes in the area. A review of the capacity
and type of existing facilities can then be carried out and the forward
capacity required to maintain an adequate network of facilities identified
on the basis of the current management systems for these wastes. It
is expected that this ongoing consultation process will also help to
identify and establish local markets for recycled materials (see Section
4.3.1.). Action 24 Action 25 It is also recognised that the Enterprise Network support
agencies (e.g. Local Enterprise Companies, Business Environment Partnership)
have a key role to play in raising awareness within local businesses
of the benefits of measuring and monitoring the quantities of waste
that they produce. Further national work is required to establish data
systems to record and monitor waste arisings from waste producers.
4.2.2 Specific Local Waste Streams Priority Waste Stream Projects Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Figure 11- Lothian and Borders Construction and
Demolition Waste (2000)
The study identified that nationally around 37%
of the landfilled C&D Waste could be recycled. Realising this potential
locally would create a further 226 000 tonnes of secondary aggregate
that could replace virgin aggregate used for construction in the Lothian
and Borders. The current infrastructure for these wastes can be found
within the SEPA Priority Waste Stream Report (availability in annex4)
or can be located on the CIRIA Internet Register of Recycling Sites
(http://www.ciria.org.uk). Through improved resource management of the construction
industry, preventing or reducing the production of waste will have the
maximum positive environmental impact, through reduced resource use,
lower emissions and energy consumption. A full set of recommendations
is detailed in the Construction and Demolition Priority Waste Stream
Project Report – Data, Best Practice and Recommendations (see Annex
4 for availability). Action 26 Action 27 Tyres Nationally, around 3% of tyres are reused, 13% recycled
(via retreading and silage clamps/landfill engineering), and 49% landfilled.
Of those tyres arising in Lothian and Borders in 1999, 20% were landfilled.
The remainder are thought to be mainly exported as part worn tyres or
for other reuse. It should be noted, however, that since 1999 the situation
is less bleak in that very few tyres arising in Scotland are now being
landfilled. Direct and significant markets are now available with Lafarge
Cement UK (formerly Blue Circle Cement Kiln in Dunbar) who use tyres
as a coal substitute, and use of old tyres within landfill sites for
engineering purposes, e.g. leachate drainage layer. Implementation of the Landfill Directive will see a ban
on whole tyres to landfill by July 2003 and shredded tyres by 2006. Newsprint The total newsprint waste arisings in Scotland in 1999
is estimated to have been approximately 240 000 tonnes – 6% printers
waste, 11% over issue to sales outlets and 83% post consumer (based
on sales data). The extent of post-consumer newsprint waste arisings
in the Lothian and Borders in 1999 was estimated at 34 307 tonnes. Recovery of newsprint is estimated at 75% printers waste, 100% of over issues and 14% of post-consumer newsprint arisings for the whole of Scotland. It is estimated that the requirements of the Landfill Directive targets to divert Biodegradable Municipal Waste from landfill will require the recovery of between 150 000 and 230 000 tonnes per year of newsprint waste by 2016, requiring a five- to eightfold increase in recovery above current levels. It is unlikely that this will result in new mill capacity being developed in Scotland but a number of other potential outlets have been identified as:
These outlets can be developed as new reprocessing opportunities
within the Lothian and Borders but would required a stable and guaranteed
supply of materials, that will require co-ordination and co-operation
between Local Authorities and private sector organisations. End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs)
The national study on ELVs estimates 1999 arisings in
the Lothian and Borders (cars and light goods vehicles) to be 29 285
vehicles, equating to 28 699 tonnes (at 0.98 tonnes average weight of
an ELV). Of these 2604 vehicles (9%) were premature ELVs, 1483
vehicles (5%) were abandoned ELVs (recovered by Local Authorities) and
25 148 vehicles (86%) were private ELVs. Current infrastructure indicates that there are 42 dismantlers/scrap
yards/metal recyclers in the waste-strategy area. The report identifies Best Practice under the requirements of the End-of-Life Vehicle Directive that includes:
Other Local Priority Wastes
Annual reporting on the area waste plan will identify
future actions and outcomes on these waste streams in the Lothian and
Borders. Action 28 City of Edinburgh Council currently undertakes a collection service for hazardous household materials and are working with SEPA and other authorities on the potential expansion of this service. Midlothian Council is taking part in the National Hazardous Household Waste Priority Waste Stream Project for hazardous household wastes. Action 29
It must be recognised that to realise any waste prevention
targets a co-ordinated effort with government and industry is fundamental
with a potential requirement for further regulatory and economic instruments,
increased education and awareness, and other measures to increase the
responsibility of producers to minimise their waste. Of the 202 businesses
consulted with during phase one of the Area Waste Plan development,
nearly 60% of respondents identified the reduction of waste at source
as the preferred future sustainable option for their wastes. Waste prevention
tools include pre-product design, changes to management and production
processes, and the development of clean or wasteless technologies. There is a clear and well-defined methodology for carrying out waste minimisation or resource efficiency that commerce and industry can adopt in Scotland. This involves using a systematic approach where a company identifies the true cost of waste by carrying out an audit, sets waste-reduction targets and develops an action plan that would look at improvement opportunities. There are good examples of successful projects in the Lothian and Borders where the environmental and financial benefits of waste minimisation have been demonstrated. These include:
Through this well-established network, and a comprehensive
database of interested companies developed as part of an extensive consultation
process, waste producers are well represented in the development of
the plan and the task now is to engage a further number of companies
in waste prevention. Action 30 Action 31
Waste from one commercial/industrial process may be a useful material that can be used within another process, a fundamental concept of the sustainable management of resources. Of the 202 businesses that responded to the Waste Producers Consultation, 143 agreed that services to sell or exchange wastes would be useful. There are also significant opportunities in the refurbishment and reuse of office furniture and computer/telecom equipment, especially for reuse by community organisations, Not-for-Profit sector, and small new business start-ups that have limited resources for new office equipment. Action 32
4.2.5 Recycling and Composting The development of commercial recycling services have the potential to maximise the overall benefits and feasibility of household recycling services, and will be encouraged wherever possible. Examples of integrated recycling schemes include:
The community sector play an important role in providing
local recycling services for businesses. LEEP run a substantial office
paper and cardboard collection scheme for 300 businesses in Edinburgh
and have just received landfill tax funding to extend the service and
create a sustainable future for the project. It is also anticipated
to extend the materials collected to include such items as fluorescent
tubes. LEEP also run Cash for Cans collections from businesses in Edinburgh
and Lothian areas. LEEP is investigating and hoping to be involved in future
WEEE collection services in the area following an initial pilot that
was carried out in 1997/1998. Consultation with the local business community has highlighted
that, whilst many are willing to participate in recycling, the lack
of local facilities, on-site storage, current financial benefits and
information on markets for sorted wastes is preventing increased participation.
Improved availability of services and cost savings were the two highest
responses to encourage businesses to recycle more of their wastes.
If the Waste Strategy Area Group decides to pursue development of processes to recover energy from MSW, then the possibility of dealing with a wider range of wastes may become available. Such wastes could include:
It should be noted that the actual wastes treated would
depend on their nature, the technology of the plant chosen and the economics
of managing the wastes.
Private sector companies collect the remaining waste arisings
in the area. Under the current Landfill Directive definitions of MSW,
biodegradable commercial wastes collected by the private sector are
not obligated under the same diversion requirements. Wastes that if
collected by the Local Authority would be subject to treatment under
the Landfill Directive targets. Private-sector collected wastes will
also not be affected by any statutory recycling and recovery targets
that are being developed for MSW. As data improve on the arising of private sector collected wastes, the identification of forward disposal capacity for all wastes can be adequately assessed. See Action 2, section 2.4.1 |
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