LARAC -

Waste policy devolved to the Scottish Government

Devolved to Scottish Government but some powers reserved by Westminster.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has a statutory duty to protect the environment and human health from the effects of waste management and disposal. SEPA has both regulatory and enforcement functions.

In June 2010, the Scottish Government launched the Zero Waste Plan for Scotland. The plan sets the strategic direction for Scottish waste policy over the next 10 years.

There are 32 single tier local authorities which are supported by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA).

The National Waste Management Plan (Scotland) Regulations 2007 transferred the duty to prepare a National Waste Management Plan from SEPA to the Scottish Government.

Scotland currently has 11 Waste Strategy Areas, each producing an Area Waste Plan (plans under review
as part of the move toward Zero Waste Scotland).

Local Authorities produce individual Waste Strategy Implementation Plans in order to meet Area Waste Plans and Zero Waste Scotland objectives.

The Landfill Allowance Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2005 came into force in April 2005.

The biodegradable content of collected municipal waste is assumed to be 64% by weight.

The Landfill Allowances Trading Scheme is currently suspended in Scotland.

Does not apply in Scotland. From 2008-09 the ring-fence will be removed and additional funding absorbed within the overall local government settlement – linked to Concordat and outcome agreements.

The Zero Waste Plan for Scotland details national targets of:

o    40% recycling/composting/preparing for reuse from households by 2010
o    50% recycling/composting/preparing for reuse from households by 2013
o    50% recycling/composting/preparing for reuse from households and similar by 2020
o    60% recycling/composting/preparing for reuse from households by 2020
o    70% recycling/composting/preparing for reuse from construction and demolition by 2020
o    No more than 5% of all waste to landfill by 2025
o    70% recycling/composting/preparing for reuse of all waste by 2025
o    No more than 1.8 million tonnes of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill by 2013
o    No more than 1.26 million of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill by 2020

Current 25% cap on local authority collected municipal waste sent to Energy from Waste (EfW) plants.

25% cap under review to incorporate emphasis toward dealing with all wastes and not just those managed by local authorities.

The Special Waste Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004 came into force in August 2004, and require segregated storage of hazardous wastes.

The Scottish Government has committed to develop a Waste Prevention Programme for Scotland in accordance with the Revised Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) by the end of 2010. The programme will include Reuse activities.

No Targets – However, non-municipal waste framework and waste prevention plans in place. Waste audits have been undertaken by LAs and action plans produced.

Scottish Government £152 million Zero Waste Fund (2008-11), providing funding to local authorities and  Zero Waste Partner organisations in order to meet recycling and landfill diversion targets

Best Value - under the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003: Best Value Guidance.

Accounts Commission Performance Indicators for waste management - waste disposal, collection, recycling etc.

The Zero Waste Plan Scotland  data and reporting requirements are:

    Waste from households: by waste management method & Local Authority
    Waste from household arisings: kg/capita/year by local authority
    Household recycling/composting: split by local authority and measured in terms of tonnage and carbon
    Household recycling collection numbers and methods, by local authority
    Scottish waste arisings: by waste management method & split by households, commercial & industrial, and constructions & demolition
    Scottish recycling/composting: by households, commercial & industrial and construction/demolition
    Scottish waste incineration: by households, commercial & industrial and construction & demolition
    Scottish waste landfilled: by households, commercial & industrial and construction & demolition
    Biodegradable Municipal Waste landfilled: by household, commercial & industrial and construction & demolition
    Scottish Special Waste
    Waste exports/imports: by waste management method

Quarterly Waste Data Flow returns to SEPA.

Local Authority Waste Arisings survey.

There are various working groups looking at benchmarking for different services/activities.

APSE Scotland represents every Scottish Local Authority.

Not paid in Scotland as all authorities are unitary.

Services delivered by community sector groups in certain areas may be recompensed via service level agreements with local authorities.

Waste Aware Scotland provides a range of information, advice and resources for local authorities, community groups and the general public aimed at sustainable waste management.

A family of websites provide Waste Aware information for schools, businesses, students, as well as individual issues such as Waste Aware Love Food (even offers an iPhone app for menu planning!).

LTCS funds used for environmental projects but since 2003 no longer used to directly fund waste management projects. Increase Fund from Scottish Executive has been released for funding community organisations for increased capacity for waste management and recycling in the community sector.

Zero Waste Scotland offers support to local authorities in Scotland.

Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER) addresses knowledge gaps relating to environmental issues.

New Zero Waste Fund has replaced the Strategic Waste Fund and is providing funding to local authorities to meet recycling and landfill diversion targets.

The Scottish Waste Awareness Group (SWAG) is co-ordinating a national recycling campaign.  Food waste collection trials are ongoing in six local authorities in Scotland.

Community Recycling Network Scotland represents 3rd sector involvement in waste recycling/min/re-use.