Lothian and Borders Area Waste Plan

The waste screening process carried out as part of the national non-MSW framework has identified shortfalls in current infrastructure for the range of waste groupings. This highlights areas where local business opportunities arise in developing new facilities to reprocess waste materials.

Extensive consultation in the Lothian and Borders has identified that local businesses and industry would like to have improved access to local markets for the following materials: paper, cardboard, plastic, wood, metal, oil.

In the short term the Waste Strategy Area Group will actively input to the work of ReMaDe and WRAP, if required, a multi-stakeholder Recycling Market development group to address local market issues will be established. See Section 3.4.4 for further detail on ReMaDe or WRAP.

The cultural shift that is required to change attitudes and behaviour is not only targeted at local householders.

As key waste producers, local business and industry must also be involved in future education and awareness programmes. There is already a great deal of useful information available to businesses on waste and environmental issues and, where required, complimentary information will be further developed and disseminated widely. The promotion of information will be targeted wherever possible through the existing business environmental network that currently exists in the Lothian and Borders. Consultation has identified areas for further development and increased education and awareness for local businesses. These are:

As part of the widespread consultation undertaken with local businesses, a contacts database for effective widespread dissemination of information has been developed and this is used in association with other established business environment network contacts.

It is proposed to support and further develop training and awareness issues through existing networks (REAP, Envirowise, Business Environmental Partnership, Business Environment Network, Institute of Environmental Management and Auditors, Institute of Waste Management, etc.) and continue promoting local seminars.

Action 33
Undertake the organisation of quality business waste-awareness seminars.

Action 34
Produce and widely distribute a Business Waste Minimisation directory.

Web-based information for non-MSW will also be integrated within SMART Action 21 set out in section 3.4.5

The Waste Strategy Area Group will also continue to support the STEP Programme (Shell Technology and Environment Placement Programme) and the Environmental Placement Programme co-ordinated by the Business Environment Partnership. This is an excellent initiative of placing higher education students in local businesses to support business environmental programmes including waste minimisation. The programme for 2002 identified potential savings of around £1.4 million for Scottish businesses.

Action 35
The WSAG will promote local good practice award schemes, e.g. STEP, VIBES.

The waste industry must be involved in the implementation of the AWP as in many cases this sector will be the major providers of investment in new infrastructure and provide considerable expertise in the management of wastes. Local businesses and industry must have their waste management needs addressed to ensure that the Scottish Economy is supported by the National Waste Strategy and that good practice is promoted to all waste producers. To ensure the effective input of the waste management industry and waste producers the working groups already well established in Lothian and Borders will continue to identify local needs, utilise and share local knowledge and expertise.

This section addresses the tools that are available and those that need to be further developed to influence the behaviour of non-MSW producers towards the best sustainable options that will be identified as this framework further develops. Whilst there are a range of longer-term legislative and fiscal tools that have to be addressed on a national basis (see the national waste plan for further detail), the following localised actions will be taken forward in encouraging and influencing change in the management of non-MSW.

Action 36
Undertake research into and produce guidance for retailers/superstores on staff training programmes to develop on-site business “waste managers”. Hold workshops with key stakeholders to define and agree guidance objectives and content.

Action 37
Consider and investigate the provision of shared waste management facilities within industrial estates/retail parks, predominantly for higher value recoverable wastes. See work of the Macmerry Sustainability Partnership.