EfW & Policy
Emerging Scottish Government Policy
On 24 January 2008, Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead outlined a new set of targets for waste management to the Scottish Parliament. These new targets aimed to move Scotland to the forefront of nations striving to achieve a zero waste society.
The targets were set out as:
Municipal waste recycled or composted: (currently 29.8%)
● 40% by 2010
● 50% by 2013
● 60% by 2020
● 70% by 2025
Municipal waste used to generate energy (currently 2%)
● 4% by 2010
● 14% by 2013
● 25% by 2020
● 25% by 2025
Municipal waste going to landfill (currently 69%)
● 56% by 2010
● 36% by 2013
● 15% by 2020
● 5% by 2025
These targets only refer to Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). They do not include commercial and industrial (C&I) waste, which accounts for most of the waste in Scotland. (There will be separate consultation on targets for C&I.)
Richard Lochhead also explained that the Government would seek a high level of efficiency through combined heat and power or district heating and that SEPA guidance would be updated to reflect this.
The targets for MSW, as above, show that Scotland aims to have a high level of recycling alongside use of EfW for dealing with the residual waste. This approach is already implemented in many European countries such as Denmark, which has used EfW for many years while achieving very high recycling rates.
Further information can be found here:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/01/24145725
The revised proposals, taking waste from a much smaller area to a significantly smaller plant, show that Viridor is committed to supporting the tough recycling targets set by the Scottish Government.
The revised proposals have been designed to deliver the lowest practicable carbon footprint and the Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO), with a cost-efficient way and sustainable alternative to landfilling.
In treating only residual waste, the proposed facility will greatly assist authorities to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, meet demanding targets and avoid fines for non-compliance.
It will also help offset the significant impact of ever-increasing landfill tax which will be £48 per tonne in 2010.
Local Area Waste Plan
The Lothian and Borders Area Waste Plan has been developed to establish a framework for improved waste management practices across the five local authority areas:
● City of Edinburgh
● East Lothian
● Midlothian
● West Lothian
● Scottish Borders
It profiles a range of waste management options and identifies the BPEO for wastes management over the next 13 years and beyond, for Lothians and Borders.
The Area Waste Plan addresses a number of important issues, including increasing recycling and encouraging waste reduction and reuse of materials. It also looks at the need to treat and divert residual municipal waste from landfill to ensure compliance with EU landfill Directive targets.
The proposed facility would enable Local Authorities to meet their targets for diverting MSW from landfill, as outlined in the:
● National Waste Plan: Scotland (NWP) 1999,
● Waste Emissions and Trading (WET) Act 2003, and
● Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC).
The reduction in size and capacity brings the proposed EfW facility into line with the requirements of the local Area Waste Plan and clearly meets a well defined substantive need.
Further information can be found here:
http://www.sepa.org.uk/NWS/areas/lothian_borders/awp/index.html
