5.5 Monitoring Progress and Performance

Monitoring and review of the AWP performance will be an important element in measuring the influence and success the plan will have in managing waste in the North East and to meet targets set by the Landfill Directive. This will ensure that the plan continues to be effective and deliver the improvement in waste management at both the North East and national level.

An annual AWP progress report will be provided to the Scottish Executive, and made available on the web site, with a summary of the annual forward development plans. This will ensure that the AWP can remain current, highlight progress on implementing the AWP and flag up key issues that need to be addressed by a future review.

Given that the MSW BPEO process was a rigorous and consensual process, involving all local authorities and a range of other key stakeholder bodies, it is proposed that the aggregated figures from the AWPs should form the basis for national recycling and recovery MSW targets. It is also proposed that the targets post 2010 should be reviewed in line with revised AWPs. This would take into account the progress made in achieving the 2010 target and issues such as the future adoption of new technologies and application of legislation.

5.5.1 Application of MSW Targets

The three local authorities within the North East area could meet the AWP targets either collectively or individually. Collective working will allow for greater flexibility by allowing each authority to concentrate on the recycling, composting or energy recovery that best suits their individual circumstances. However, each authority will have to be clear from the outset what their share of the target tonnage is. This will require a high level agreement between each authority in the Waste Strategy Area. Individual working will not provide the same level of flexibility. Should agreement between local authorities prove difficult to reach, arbitration may be required to split area targets into individual authority targets.

5.5.2 Indicators

The North East AWP is setting out the direction by taking the first steps towards making the significant changes that are required to change our ‘throw away’ culture to a more waste-aware, resource-efficient society. The magnitude of this change is substantial and to ensure that the plan becomes a reality, monitoring and reporting of it’s implementation will be essential.

Table 5.1 sets out the proposed indicators.

Table 5.1 - Indicators