4.2 Specific Waste Streams

Using the Consolidated European Waste Catalogue (August 2002) all listed wastes have been grouped into compatible industry sectors. These groupings will form the basis of future work on other non-municipal wastes. Any links with the current Priority Waste Stream programme and existing Technical Guidance, Best Practice, etc., have been identified along with possible links to current BPEO technology options for MSW as set out in the AWP.

The waste groupings are detailed in Table 4.1.

Table 4.1 - Waste Sector Groupings

Action 18
To undertake activities to ensure NEWSAG member organisations are reducing the amounts of waste they each produce and engage in best practice.

4.2.1 Prioritisation of Projects

A decision matrix has been developed to classify the wastes into high, medium and low priority projects. This has been based on the following considerations:

• Links to Municipal Solid Waste BPEO
  

• Hazardous content
  

• Recovery/recycling value
  

• Sectoral importance (to the Scottish economy)
  

• Infrastructure shortfall in Scotland
  

• Quantity
  

• Finite resource use
  

• Legislative/regulatory priority.

These projects will be managed at either the local or the national level depending on the geographical distribution of arisings. Paragraph 4.2.2 details how this AWP will contribute to the outputs of these projects.

Technical groups consisting of the key waste producers, waste managers and other representative stakeholders specific to each of the sector groupings will be formed to drive the range of projects forward. The membership of these groups is very important to ensure ownership and credibility of the project outputs by those sectors that produce and manage these wastes for the future. The groups will undertake and commission work that will seek to provide the following recommended outputs:

• Establish reliable baseline data and existing regulatory controls.
  

• Report on current practices to deal with waste.
  

• List current facilities and technologies.
  

• Identify emerging technologies and processes.
  

• Recommend good practice and links to existing best practice guidance.
  

• Provide guidance on identifying local BPEO and the use of life-cycle assessment.
  

• Produce user guides.
  

• Identify problematic wastes that may require further research.

• Identify waste-minimisation tools
  

• Identify skills gaps and training opportunities.
  

• Identify barriers to achieving BPEO and recommendations to overcome.
  

• Describe benefits and opportunities to implementing BPEO.
  

• Identify necessary regulatory controls and other drivers.
  

• Identify any necessary economic and regulatory impact assessments for the sector.
  

• Identify enterprise opportunities and social benefits.

4.2.2 Self-Assessment Guidance for BPEO Decision Making

Not all wastes can be addressed as a high priority and the BPEO projects will be timetabled over the longer term. There are opportunities to encourage the widespread use of the BPEO decision-making processes that consider environmental, economic and social aspects when dealing with these wastes. The development of generic ‘Self-Assessment BPEO Guidance for Industry and Commerce’ will provide a valuable and consistent process for waste producers, waste industry and waste regulators alike, when making localised assessments on the best sustainable options available and the use of life-cycle assessment. In order to achieve widespread industry ownership and acceptability of the guidance, it shall be developed in an inclusive manner with consultation involving key stakeholders and will be undertaken at a national level.