3.9 Integrating the North East BPEO Into National Context

While the 11 AWPs and their BPEOs have set out a response to the management of wastes locally, each AWP will contribute to the overall National Waste Strategy for Scotland. This, in turn, will contribute to the UK government’s response to the requirements of the EU Framework Directive and sustainable development. Integration recommendations will be taken into consideration by the WSAG throughout the implementation of the Area Waste Plan.

Although each AWP establishes an action plan, there may be opportunities for partnership working across Waste Strategy Area boundaries, to deliver more cost effective and robust solutions. In order to identify these opportunities, the 11 BPEOs were evaluated as part of an integration process. The main conclusions from this process are as follows:

• Large-scale facilities do not necessarily bring significant economies of scale and can be more difficult to deliver and a loss of flexibility can result.
  

• Composting should be undertaken on a waste strategy area basis if practicable.
  

• The North East Waste Strategy Area Group should inform and work with neighbouring waste strategy area groups when planning MRF.
  

• There are benefits in terms of access to markets and prices commanded , in accumulating as large a mass as possible of the highest possible quality of recyclate.

These conclusions will be taken into account when carrying out the detailed implementation planning of the MSW BPEO for the North East.