Foreword by by Lothian and Borders Waste Strategy Area Group Chair

It is with great pleasure that I present to you the Lothian and Borders Area Waste Plan. The Lothian and Borders Waste Strategy Area Group (WSAG) has been working hard since early 2000 to prepare a long-term and integrated plan for wastes in the Area. The commitment and work of the members of the Area Waste Group, namely City of Edinburgh Council, East Lothian Council, Midlothian Council, West Lothian Council, Scottish Borders Council, Business Environment Partnership, Scottish Environmental Services Association, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothians; Lothians & Edinburgh Environmental Partnership; Scottish Waste Awareness Group; Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Enterprise Borders in developing this plan are acknowledged.

Waste management in Scotland is on the verge of major change, driven by legislative changes, public expectation and economic drivers. The Lothian and Borders is well placed to be at the forefront of these changes and to lead others by example. Once implementation commences, everyone within the area will have an opportunity to make a real impact. The generation of waste is everyone’s problem and it is our duty to live within our means and to act in a responsible manner for the benefit of ourselves as well as for future generations.

The production of this Area Waste Plan has been built on a consultative and consensual approach that will continue to characterise the work of the Area Waste Group in future. Feedback from stakeholders, including the commercial sector, business organisations, politicians, campaigning groups and local people has been important in shaping the thinking behind this plan.

The plan proposes a radical shift in the minimisation of waste to landfill that has not been achieved to date within the UK. There is a lot to be done including giving waste prevention, education and promotion of waste issues much higher profiles, improve our understanding of how we manage all wastes and filling current data gaps that exist. The plan will also seek to ensure a proactive approach in dealing with the implications of new legislation. Significant changes to the treatment of wastes have been identified and these will see the development of new services and facilities throughout the area, all requiring high levels of additional funding.

The Area Waste Plan process to date has built strong partnerships between a wide range of organisations. Current limitations in the public procurement of waste management services must, therefore, be overcome to ensure that this partnership approach remains at the heart of sustainable waste management.

The next step is, of course, to implement the respective actions detailed in the plan. Effective implementation is imperative if the plan is to succeed. There are some tough targets to meet and a significant amount of hard work is needed to change the very attitudes and behaviours that currently contribute towards the throw-away society that we have become and ensure active participation in reducing waste to landfill by the whole of the Lothian and Borders community. Consultation with the Lothian and Borders local community has demonstrated a high level of commitment to sustainable waste management and this is a fundamental cornerstone on which to build success.

Joanne Green
Chair, Lothian and Borders Area Waste Group
(Local Authority Liaison Unit Manager, SEPA)