Press releases

HRH Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, opens SSE’s Barkip AD Plant

chris.meikle — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:07:30 +0000

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HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, officially opened SSE’s innovative Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant at Barkip near Beith in North Ayrshire today.

His Royal Highness toured the innovative plant and met a number of SSE staff and invited industry guests who are all involved in helping to achieve Scotland’s waste reduction ambitions. The visit concluded with HRH officially opening the plant.

Barkip is the largest combined organic waste treatment and energy generating facility in Scotland. The plant can process up to 75,000 tonnes of organic waste annually and produce 2.2MW of renewable electricity from the biogas produced, enough to power approximately 5,500 homes. The fully operational facility is one of the most technologically advanced in the UK and has a major role to play in meeting Scotland’s renewable energy production and waste recycling targets.

Barkip takes in food waste and other organic matter from industries such as agriculture, food production, food retail and alcohol production. This waste is then broken down by bacteria to produce biogas. The methane rich biogas is combusted in gas engines to generate electricity. The residual material forms a nutrient rich digestate, a liquid suitable for use as a fertiliser in agriculture. Barkip is a truly sustainable zero-waste solution for organic wastes and can divert a staggering 37,000 tonnes of food waste from landfill each year.

The operation of Barkip is managed by Zebec Biogas Limited on SSE’s behalf and they also provide the biological process expertise. Zero Waste Scotland invested £2.2 million in the Barkip project from their Organics Capital Grants Programme.

SSE’s Director of Thermal Development, Rhys Stanwix, said: ‘We were delighted to welcome His Royal Highness to the state of the art AD plant at Barkip which is a source of real pride to all at SSE. We want to see the plant continue to play a crucial role in waste reduction. Working with local authorities, large-scale industrial organic waste producers and local businesses and farmers we can make a real difference to waste levels and produce renewable electricity and a quality fertiliser while doing so. Barkip is a real sustainable success story.’

Zero Waste Scotland’s Director Iain Gulland said ‘New Waste (Scotland) Regulations, passed by the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday (9th May), will prohibit biodegradable materials, like food waste, from being sent to landfill by 2021. The regulations will also drive an increase in recycling rates by requiring businesses and councils to provide separate collections for key recyclable materials, including paper and card, plastic, glass, metals, and in most cases, food waste too.

Meeting our target to achieve a 70% recycling rate by 2025 will transform our waste into a stock of resources, and reprocessing these in Scotland can create new business markets and give our economy a boost. Recycling food waste creates green energy and fertiliser, two valuable bi-products.

Investing in reprocessing facilities, like Barkip, for food waste and a range of other recyclable materials is a key part of Zero Waste Scotland’s work to unlock economic opportunities for Scotland. We are also supporting the roll-out of food waste collections to homes and businesses with £8million available this year.’

Chief Executive of Zebec Biogas Limited, Martin Gorevan, said: ‘Zebec are proud to have worked for SSE on the delivery of Barkip AD plant and are looking forward to supporting the on-going operations. Enthusiasm in Scotland towards resource efficiency and sustainable energy production is gathering momentum with SSE’s AD plant central to this development. Working for SSE, Zebec are proud to be part of this movement.’

WRAP launches guide on household rigid plastic packaging collections

sophie.hadden — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:50:29 +0000

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New guidance for local authorities, launched today by WRAP, offers potential for environmental and economic quick wins through collecting rigid plastic packaging (pots, tubs and trays) and the opportunity for residents to recycle more materials.

Currently only a tiny fraction of non-bottle rigid plastics are collected from households, despite the environmental savings of recycling one tonne of this material being 0.5 tonnes CO₂ equivalent, and anecdotal evidence that these materials are growing in value at around £40 per tonne.

Around 90% (over a million tonnes) of rigid plastic packaging is not recycled currently, despite studies showing that householders are keen to recycle this material and where collections are provided, yields of all recyclables increase. The challenge for local authorities is how to best collect these materials and communicate with householders about what can and cannot be collected.

Linda Crichton, Head of Collections and Quality at WRAP said: “We know householders want to recycle more of their plastic packaging and that increasing numbers of local authorities want to collect it, the challenge is to collect and recycle it effectively without reducing the quality and value of the plastic bottle stream.

“Our new guide and communications materials launched today provide information on how to collect these materials, and how to communicate with householders to ensure these materials are recycled as effectively as possible.”

Collection services and communications with residents are just part of the picture however - infrastructure is also needed to retain the value of the material in the UK. WRAP’s Mixed Plastics Loan Fund provides financial support to re-processors in England to stimulate the growth of this market. The first loan recipient, ECO Plastics, opens a new facility today which will recycle an additional 15,000 tonnes of rigid plastic packaging. ECO Plastics received a £1.15m loan from WRAP.

Ms Crichton says: “It is important that local authorities only collect non-bottle rigid plastics if they have access to the facilities to sort and reprocess them. If non-bottle plastics are simply added to the plastic bottle recycling stream without the sorting infrastructure in place, they will become a contaminant and probably end up in landfill. WRAP’s guide aims to help local authorities to maximise the value of the plastic packaging streams they collect for recycling.”

Local authorities can find out where their nearest rigid plastic processing facility is by using the British Plastic Federation’s directory: www.bpf.co.uk.

WRAP’s guides on plastic bottle and rigid plastic packaging collections can be downloaded from: www.wrap.org.uk/rigidplasticguidance

WRAP’s materials on communicating plastic collections to residents are available at: www.recyclenowpartners.org.uk. Local authorities in Wales can access Wales-specific bilingual copies at: www.wasteawarenesswales.org.uk/plasticrecyclingmaterials.html.

WRAP’s vision is a world without waste, where resources are used sustainably. It works in partnership to help businesses, individuals and communities improve resource efficiency.

Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found on www.wrap.org.uk

New waste regulations for Scotland

chris.meikle — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:59:40 +0000

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Edinburgh retailers, Glasgow restaurants, and Alloa industrial parks are amongst businesses in Scotland who are joining forces to recycle more and save on costs.

The projects are being showcased by the Scottish Government after a landmark step towards creating a zero waste society in Scotland was taken yesterday, when new Waste (Scotland) Regulations were passed by the Scottish Parliament.

The Waste (Scotland) Regulations will require all businesses to separate paper and card, plastic, metal and glass for recycling by January 2014. Businesses that produce more than 50kg of food waste per week will also need to separate this for collection.

Householders are also set to see changes as a result of the regulations as councils will increase kerbside services to include separate collections for paper and card, plastic, metal, glass and, with the exception of rural areas, food too.

To support the changes required by the regulations, Zero Waste Scotland will be investing £8 million in councils and commercial waste management firms this year, including £5 million to support the roll-out of new food waste collections and £750,000 to help increase the availability of collection services to Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs.)

Zero Waste Scotland is also supporting collaborative approaches to recycling collections, designed to make it easier and cheaper for SMEs to recycle by working together. Pilot projects are underway in Bathgate, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, Alloa, and Dumfries and Galloway.

In Glasgow, the Glasgow Restaurant Association is taking forward plans to bring its 84 members together to recycle food waste at reduced cost.

Essential Edinburgh, a Business Improvement District* (BID) representing 600 levy payers, aims to work with local businesses and waste management company Shanks to let a single contract for waste and recycling services. If successful, businesses could save up to 70 per cent on waste management fees per year. Working together will also reduce vehicle emissions and waste containers and bags seen on the street.

Environment Secretary, Richard Lochhead, said:

“I am delighted that the waste regulations have been approved by the Scottish Parliament as they represent a major step in delivering our vision of a zero waste Scotland. These regulations will bring about a profound and long-overdue change in how we view and manage the waste that we produce.

“Innovative solutions to recycle in cost-effective ways signal a welcome pragmatism from Scottish businesses to meet the requirements of new waste regulations. The Scottish Government, along with Zero Waste Scotland, is providing funding to help businesses find better solutions to managing waste.

“We all need to realise that the price of and demand for raw materials is increasing globally, mainly down to rising energy costs, consumer trends, population growth and resource scarcity. To create a secure resource future we need to develop the infrastructure necessary to reprocess high quality materials in Scotland and reduce our dependence on raw materials from overseas. An increase in better recycling will provide the stimulus to drive this required investment and in turn create new employment opportunities and help Scotland become a low carbon economy.”

Denzil Skinner, Chair of Essential Edinburgh, said: “Our Zero 2 Waste scheme will provide a whole raft of benefits to the businesses themselves and also to the environment.

“Not only can we save each business money – often several times what they pay in their levy to us – but, very importantly, we will enable the waste to be collected in the most effective manner to divert it from landfill. This will become legislation for businesses in the coming years so it is prudent to start now.

“We are also helping the environment by reducing the number of collection lorries making journeys around the city centre, reducing carbon emissions. Finally we hope to improve the visual amenity of the area by reducing the number of bins and bags on the streets by providing shared bins when some issues with the regulations have been overcome.”

Robin Stevenson, Northern Regional Director from Shanks, said:

"We are delighted to be Essential Edinburgh's Zero Waste Partner providing new services and containers for separate food, glass and recyclate materials. We are already seeing tremendous support from local businesses that are now able to significantly increase their recycling rates as well as reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill.”

Iain Gulland, Director of Zero Waste Scotland, said:

“The Waste (Scotland) Regulations are about unlocking economic opportunity for Scotland. Our waste is a valuable resource we can no longer afford to ignore. The potential to save money, create jobs, and grow Scotland’s recycling and reprocessing industry is huge.

“Many businesses are already adopting ‘zero waste’ measures to give them a competitive edge. By taking simple steps to reduce waste, Scottish businesses could save an estimated £2 billion. Reducing waste in the first place saves on disposal costs and is best for the environment.

“We are here to help businesses to reduce waste and comply with new regulations. We are also supporting councils to roll-out new collection services to householders. Last year, we provided £4 million to councils and businesses to help with the start-up costs for food waste collections, and this year we will invest a further £5 million in this activity. We are also helping private companies and the third sector develop their businesses to create a competitive marketplace.”

Background

*A Business Improvement District (BID) is a precisely defined geographical area of a town, commercial district or tourism and visitor area, where businesses vote to invest collectively in local improvements resulting in an improved business environment and improved local economic growth. BIDs are developed, managed and paid for by the commercial sector by means of a compulsory BID levy.

The following projects are currently receiving support from Zero Waste Scotland’s £50,000 SME Recycling Fund:

Enterprising Bathgate, a BID with 420 levy payers, recently completed an eight week pilot to contract Changeworks to provide recycling services for paper, card, plastics, cans and glass to 35 businesses in Bathgate Town Centre free of charge.
Falkirk Delivers, a BID with 424 levy payers, is currently undertaking a survey of their levy payers with a view to introducing a recycling service. Street ambassadors have received training to help them engage with the businesses to encourage return of the survey.
ClacksFirst/Alloa Town Centre, a BID of 500 levy payers, in collaboration with Alloa Community Enterprises (ACE), has appointed a project leader for six months who will be responsible for working with ACE to set up a recycling service for the levy payers.
MoffatCan has appointed a project officer for six months to set up a recycling service for local businesses, with the aim of delivering a service to 30-40 businesses in the local area.
Zero Waste Scotland works with businesses, communities, individuals and local authorities to help them reduce waste, recycle more and use resources sustainably.
Zero Waste Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government to support the delivery of its Zero Waste Plan.

Contact

Chris Nabney

Scottish Government Communications

chris.nabney@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

0131 244 2018 or 07867375396

Nicola McGovern, Press & PR Manager

01786 468804 or 07540 516156

E-mail: nicola.mcgovern@zerowastescotland.org.uk

Developers wanted to showcase resource efficiency in house-building

william.wylie — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:10:25 +0000

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An opportunity to work in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland to design and build an exemplar housing model to showcase how the latest principles in resource efficiency can be applied in house-building is being offered to architects, builders and developers, it has been announced today (Tuesday 17 April).

Zero Waste Scotland aims to drive innovation and change in the house-building market by supporting a development partner or partner group to demonstrate how resource efficiency measures can be included within the design and construction, and how this can contribute towards a resource efficient lifestyle for future occupants. The exemplar build will be required to meet the 2016 Scottish Building Standards.

Set on a site of the former Ravenscraig Steelworks in Lanarkshire, the project is part of the Building Research Establishment’s (BRE) Innovation Park, which aims to showcase the future of Scottish housing.

The search is now on to find a developer ready to take on the challenge to deliver a highly innovative yet affordable resource-efficient house which could position them as a market-leader in Scotland’s future housing developments.

Iain Gulland, Director of Zero Waste Scotland, said:

“Embedding resource efficiency in the design and construction of Scottish homes allows far-reaching benefits to be achieved.

“Building an average three-bed unit can produce between 5 to 13 tonnes of construction waste, which costs between £250 and £500 per unit. Much of this is excess materials which could be avoided through better procurement and site processes or reused elsewhere.

“The design of our homes affects our every-day life, and living in homes built with resource efficiency in mind can make it easier for us all to live a greener lifestyle. For example, recycling more can be made easier if our homes have more storage space, and well-insulated properties can save homeowners money on energy bills.

“Our project will work with a developer to bring a design for a family home based on resource efficiency principles to market. This could fundamentally change the future of the Scottish house-building industry. And by constructing this exemplar using best practice techniques in procurement and waste management, the developer will set a market-leading standard which could be replicated to reduce waste in the construction industry in the long-term and potentially influence the next generation of building standard regulations.”

The successful Development Partner will construct the house on a development plot funded by Zero Waste Scotland at the BRE Innovation Park. Selected build materials and fit out furnishings will be made available to the Development Partner on a free issue basis to support the construction of the house.

Following construction, the House will be showcased as part of the Park for at least two years.

BRE is hosting an Innovation Park brokering event on 19th April 2012, at the Thistle Hotel Glasgow, where further information regarding the Zero Waste Scotland House will be provided. Details and booking arrangements can be found at the following link.

Visit www.zerowastescotland.org.uk or contact brian.mathers@zerowastescotland.org.uk for more information and to find out how you can submit your application.

About Zero Waste Scotland:

Zero Waste Scotland works with businesses, communities, individuals and local authorities to help them reduce waste, recycle more and use resources sustainably.
Zero Waste Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government to support the delivery of its Zero Waste Plan.
More information on all Zero Waste Scotland’s programmes can be found at www.zerowastescotland.org.uk.

For further information about Zero Waste Scotland contact:

Nicola McGovern, Press & PR Manager

Tel: 01786 468890

Mob: 07540 516156

E-mail: nicola.mcgovern@zerowastescotland.org.uk

Scots urged to go greener this Easter

william.wylie — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:36:09 +0000

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Packaging created by around seven million Easter eggs set to be bought in Scotland this year will weigh the equivalent of more than 200,000 Easter bunnies, it has been revealed today (4 April 2012).

More than 250 tonnes of extra waste could be produced by Scotland’s Easter egg packaging alone, according to estimates from Zero Waste Scotland.

The Scottish Government and Zero Waste Scotland are encouraging people to consider choosing Easter eggs with less packaging and to be sure to recycle waste packaging using kerbside services or at local recycling facilities when Easter is over.

Home-made Easter chocolate treats can reduce waste even further, and with many families in Scotland also celebrating Easter with other seasonal goodies, like Sunday dinners and hot cross buns, taking steps to reduce food waste could save families money too.

Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Richard Lochhead, said:

“Chocolate treats and family get-togethers can be a great way to enjoy holidays like Easter, and it’s so easy to take simple steps to help the environment and Scotland’s economy at this time too. “Choosing Easter eggs with less packaging sends a clear message to retailers about consumer preferences. Recycling as much as you can gives valuable materials like paper boxes another life - and a boost to Scotland’s recycling industry. Find out more about your local recycling facilities by visiting www.recycleforscotland.com and typing in your postcode.”

Iain Gulland, Director of Zero Waste Scotland, said:

“Significant progress has already been made by leading retailers to reduce packaging covering Easter eggs. However, more can be done and we can all play an important part by shopping smartly and recycling everything we can.

“Planning the Easter meals you want to enjoy, using a shopping list and making good use of leftovers, could also help save your family money too. The average Scottish household could save up to £430 by cutting out food waste. Visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com to find out more.”

Top tips to a greener Easter

1. Consider how much packaging comes with the Easter eggs you choose to buy, and if the packaging is made from recycled content or is recyclable after you’ve used it. Make a choice which is good for the environment.

2. Consider an alternative to buying Easter eggs. Why not make your own sweet treat, like cranberry brownies or chocolate nests? You might even be able to use up food you’ve already bought or items hiding at the back of your cupboard.

3. Make a point to recycle or reuse the packaging where possible. Check the on-pack labelling to see if it can be recycled – you can find out where at www.recycleforscotland.com using the handy postcode finder. Or why not keep colourful foil and bright cardboard boxes to use for arts and crafts? The plastic shell used to hold your Easter egg can be kept and used as a mould for next year.

4. As well as with Easter eggs, consider preventing waste throughout the rest of the holiday. If you’re making an Easter meal, make sure you check your cupboards and write a list before going shopping – this will stop you buying more than you need. Use a portion planner to help you decide how much to buy and cook. Leftover ingredients can be used again the next day – why not make stock from your chicken bones, or hash browns from excess potatoes. There are lots more recipe ideas at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/recipes.

The statistic of 200,000 Easter bunnies is based on the average weight of a cotton-tailed rabbit, a breed upon which the Easter bunny is traditionally based.

Food waste will fertilise flower displays at Gardening Scotland – and save gardeners money

william.wylie — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:10:39 +0000

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Zero Waste Scotland announces partnership working with Gardening Scotland’s Cookery Theatre

Keen gardeners from across Scotland will hear all about the potential benefits of reducing and recycling food waste at Gardening Scotland 2012.

Zero Waste Scotland, the organisation set up to support the Scottish Government’s drive towards a zero waste society, is working in partnership with Gardening Scotland to engage people about food waste in the Cookery Theatre.

The Zero Waste Scotland Cookery Theatre will host demonstrations from some of Scotland’s most talented chefs, who will give tips on how to make the most of fresh, seasonal produce. Reducing avoidable food waste could save the average Scottish household £430 every year.

For the first time, the Cookery Theatre will also promote food waste recycling to show how kitchen scraps can be transformed into a fertiliser suitable for use in gardens and on farms. Compost derived from food waste recycling is being used in Gardening Scotland’s gardens and floral exhibits.

Jon Molyneux from Zero Waste Scotland said:

“It’s easy to take action to reduce food waste. Taking simple steps like writing a shopping list, cooking the right amounts, and storing food correctly make a big difference. No one wants to waste money or see good food going in the bin. Visit our new improved website, lovefoodhatewaste.com for more tips to start saving money.

“Sometimes food waste can’t be avoided, for example inedible chicken bones and banana skins. Recycling this food waste is far better for the environment than sending it to landfill. In landfill sites, food decomposes to release greenhouse gases which can cause harm to the environment. Recycling it creates green energy and turns the food waste into a product which can be used as a fertiliser.

“Fertiliser and energy created from food waste recycling can benefit Scotland’s economy as well as the environment. That’s why recycling our unavoidable food waste is very important and we are supporting many local authorities roll-out kerbside food waste recycling services in communities across Scotland.”

Gardening Scotland, the national gardening and outdoor living show, will take place from Friday 1 June until Sunday 3 June at The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh. The Zero Waste Scotland Cookery Theatre will host demonstrations across the weekend.

Gardening Scotland organiser, Martin Dare, says: “We are delighted that Zero Waste Scotland will be present in the Cookery Theatre and passing on to visitors their clear message about the simple steps we can all take to throw less away and recycle more.”

The Show itself will also be doing its bit by introducing new recycling measures for visitors and exhibitors to the event. Visitors will be asked to separate recyclable waste , including cardboard, paper and plastic bottles in new recycling bins across the showground.

More than 40,000 visitors are expected to attend Gardening Scotland 2012 where 400 exhibitors will be selling plants, patio furniture and all the other essentials for a beautiful garden.

The show’s organisers will be asking every exhibitor to pledge to recycle as much of their waste as possible and, as always all the compost used to create the inspirational Show Gardens and floral exhibits will be processed to allow it to be used again.

Confidence boost for waste wood recyclers and their customers

ian.palmer — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:08:53 +0000

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A specification which sets quality requirements for wood recyclers selling products to markets using recovered wood has been launched today by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).

Developed jointly with the Wood Recyclers Association, PAS 111:2012 Specification for the requirements and test methods for processing waste wood is the first specification of its kind for waste wood. Those wood recyclers that adopt PAS 111 will be able to advertise that their products are ‘PAS 111 compliant’, meaning that potential customers can be assured that they are purchasing material of consistent and verifiable quality.

By increasing confidence amongst end users, this will drive growth in existing markets of recovered wood. There are already strong markets for higher grade recycled wood – in applications including panel board, landscaping and animal bedding – and PAS 111 will help to expand these. In turn, this should help to divert more wood from landfill into recycled products or energy recovery. In 2010, the UK generated 4.1 million tonnes of waste wood, of which 2.44 million tonnes was recovered – but the remainder was sent to landfill.

PAS 111 has been developed by WRAP in conjunction with the British Standards Institution (BSI), the Wood Recyclers Association, Environment Agency and many other industry stakeholders. The following markets account for the majority of recovered wood in the UK and are covered by PAS 111:• Panelboard manufacture• Biomass energy generation• Animal bedding• Mulches• Equine surfaces• Pathways and coverings• Industrial and commercial applications

Marcus Gover, Director of Closed Loop Economy at WRAP, said: “We are delighted to see this commitment to quality from the wood recycling industry. WRAP has worked with and supported the industry for many years and hopes that PAS 111 will help it continue to make the best use of this important resource – which is good news for both the environment and the economy”.

Peter Butt of the Wood Recyclers Association, which has supported the development of PAS 111, said: “We have worked closely with WRAP and BSI on the development of PAS 111, and its launch is a positive step for the wood recycling industry. It gives our members the opportunity to guarantee the quality and standard of their products, and give their customers added confidence in the products they buy.”

For further information or to download PAS 111 please visit: www.wrap.org.uk/pas111.

The following organisations have also contributed to the development of PAS 111:• Association for Organics Recycling (AFOR);• AW Jenkinson Forest Products;• Consulting With Purpose;• Environment Agency;• Fichtner Consulting Engineers Limited;• Hadfield Wood Recyclers & UK Wood Recycling;• National Farmers’ Union (NFU);• Sembcorp Utilities (UK);• SITA Power;• Timber Research and Development Association;• Wood Panel Industries Federation (WPIF);• Wood Protection Association (WPA);• Wood Recyclers’ Association (WRA).WRAP’s vision is a world without waste, where resources are used sustainably. It works in partnership to help businesses, individuals and communities improve resource efficiency.

Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found on www.wrap.org.uk

Website serves up recipe to save Scottish householders some dough

william.wylie — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:49:15 +0000

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Cash conscious householders in Scotland looking to save some money in the current climate will be pleased to hear about a new-look website which is geared to help save them up to £430 per year by reducing the amount of food they throw away.

Scottish households throw away around 566,000 tonnes of food each year, two-thirds of which was perfectly good food that could have been eaten. Love Food Hate Waste (www.lovefoodhatewaste.com) is a UK programme delivered in Scotland by Zero Waste Scotland which is dedicated to helping people save money by wasting less of this food.

Simple steps, such as better planning of meals, correct storing of food, and preparing and cooking the right portion sizes, could save the average household as much as £35 per month – money which could be used to fill up the family car with petrol, or pay the electricity bill.

www.lovefoodhatewaste.com is the new-look version of www.wasteawarelovefood.org.uk, which helps Scottish households save money and waste less food by providing tips and tools such as recipes to use up leftovers, and advice on how to portion and store your food for the best results.

Jenny Sim from Zero Waste Scotland said:

“We are delighted to be able to launch a revamped Love Food Hate Waste website for Scotland, which offers practical advice on how to reduce food waste, with a great new look and easier to use layout. Great strides have been made to reduce the amount of food waste households dispose of, and we hope the new improved www.lovefoodhatewaste.com will further help people to achieve this – to the benefit of their bank balances as well as helping the environment.”

Notes to editors:

Zero Waste Scotland works with businesses, communities, individuals and local authorities to help them reduce waste, recycle more and use resources sustainably.
Zero Waste Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government to support the delivery of its Zero Waste Plan.
More information on all Zero Waste Scotland’s programmes can be found at www.zerowastescotland.org.uk.

For further information about Zero Waste Scotland contact:

Nicola McGovern, Press & PR Manager

Tel: 01786 468890

Mob: 07540 516156

E-mail: nicola.mcgovern@zerowastescotland.org.uk

Chloe Bellany, Communications Executive

Tel: 01786 468802

Mob: 07540 517127

E-mail: chloe.bellany@zerowastescotland.org.uk

58,500 Scots already signed up to tackle nations litter problem – will you join them?

william.wylie — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:19:27 +0000

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A campaign to support communities in their effort to tackle litter - one of the most commonly perceived problems affecting Scottish neighbourhoods and communities - gets underway this weekend.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead praised the efforts of more than 58,000 people who have already committed to taking part in the National Spring Clean, which runs from 1 April to 31 May, as he launched it at Portobello near Edinburgh (Thursday 29 March).

The state of Scotland’s litter is not going to change overnight but YOU can make a difference – National Spring Clean, organised by leading environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, aims to empower 200,000 individuals, communities, businesses and youth groups who want to get together to clean up their favourite parts of Scotland. United, we can turn the tide on Scotland’s litter, and be proud of our country again.

With 2014 fast approaching, when the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup, Homecoming and the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn will be celebrated in Scotland, everyone has a responsibility to ensure Scotland is as beautiful as possible.

Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, said: “Every Scot can play their part in keeping our communities litter free.

“The National Spring Clean campaign is a great way of encouraging everyone to play their part in keeping our recreational areas and countryside clean. This annual campaign continues to grow; last year more than 97,000 people gave up their time to pick up more than 1,000 tonnes of litter between them. That highlights the scale of the problem we much strive to tackle. The commitment of each volunteer is to be commended and I would urge people and communities across the country to get involved to help keep Scotland beautiful."

Derek Robertson, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “It is up to each and every one of us to take a responsibility for our actions, and it’s simple to change our behaviour – put litter in the bin or nearest recycling point, and take part in National Spring Clean which is happening between 1 April and 31 May. National Spring Clean is a fun, free way to clean up the litter in your favourite part of Scotland, whether that be a hillside, beach, your local park or your own street.”

Iain Gulland, Director of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Keeping our communities clean and tidy is extremely important. Litter is an unnecessary eyesore which can spoil our neighbourhoods and make them a less pleasant place to live. Cleaning up Scotland’s litter is very expensive and waste is a valuable resource when disposed of correctly. By putting a stop to litter and recycling more, Scotland’s economy and environment can benefit.

“National Spring Clean makes a clear call to everyone to care for their own patch of Scotland by stopping littering once and for all or taking part in organised clean-ups. With major events set to take place in Scotland in coming years that will shine a spotlight on our nation, let’s ensure we all do our bit to make Scotland a place we can all be proud of.” To help groups get started, Keep Scotland Beautiful provides group organisers with free clean up kits, and they can also request additional assistance from their local council. Sign up at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/springclean

Keep Scotland Beautiful is one of Scotland’s leading environmental charities. It works across Scotland, from Shetland to the Scottish Borders, cleaning and greening up communities, schools and businesses, and has been doing so since 1970. We work in partnership with all 32 of Scotland’s Local Authorities, 700+ community groups, 3,850 of Scotland’s primary and secondary schools, over 100 businesses and have empowered in excess of 200,000 individuals to assist in community action. Keep Scotland Beautiful is a committed partner of Government and shares in the government’s vision for Scotland to be a cleaner, greener, safer and more sustainable country. Further information can be found at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org

Zero Waste Scotland is the new programme created by the Scottish Government to support delivery of its Zero Waste plan. Zero Waste Scotland has been created to provide a one-stop-shop for support and advice to individuals, businesses and local authorities in order to help them reduce waste, recycle more and use natural resources more efficiently. It will integrate the activities of WRAP Scotland, Waste Aware Scotland, Keep Scotland Tidy, Remade Scotland, Envirowise in Scotland, NISP in Scotland, and some programmes delivered by the Community Recycling Network for Scotland.

The Scottish Government's latest household survey (2009/2010) identified that 24 per cent of respondents said litter lying around was very or fairly common in their area: www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/08/17105013

Keep Scotland Beautiful is grateful to the support provided by all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities throughout the National Spring Clean campaign. Support of their local communities often includes the disposal of litter & recyclables collected, the loan of litter picking equipment, and staff support. There is a dedicated section on the National Spring Clean website with local authority contact details.

Scottish local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that public land and roads within their area are kept free from litter and refuse, as far as is practically possible. Full details of how they, and other public and private land owners, must comply with this cleansing duty are contained in the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse issued under section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (http://www.littercode.org/).

Greggs is supporting National Spring Clean by providing free edible treats for participants.

Juliette CamburnInformation & Events Officer, Campaigns & ContractsDirect Dial: 01786 477 171Out of Office hours: 07595 779 668

Scotland takes action to rid roads and rail stations of litter

william.wylie — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:18:21 +0000

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Minister for Transport launches national Transport Litter Day of Action.

Litter louts across the country will be tackled today (15 March 2012), as a national clean up and clamp-down gets underway to rid Scotland’s roads and rail stations of unsightly litter.

As it’s revealed over 53,000 bags of litter and rubbish needs to be cleared from Scotland’s motorway and trunk road network every year, organisations including Amey, BEAR Scotland, Transerve, First ScotRail and Transport Scotland are backing the annual Transport Litter Day of Action, organised by Zero Waste Scotland and Keep Scotland Beautiful on behalf of the Transport Litter Group, in a bid to clean up Scotland’s roads and rail stations.

To launch the national drive, Minister for Transport Keith Brown met with Glasgow City Council litter patrol teams, who will be working to clear litter hotspots and target offenders in and around the city as part of the Day of Action.

In addition, 11 local authorities are getting behind the drive, by undertaking clean-ups, educating the public on how to dispose of litter responsibly and enforcing litter laws by issuing £50 penalty fines.

A recent litter audit along a sample of Scotland’s busy central-belt road network found over half of the roads surveyed had unacceptable litter levels (57 per cent), with almost two thirds (71 per cent) littered with confectionary and crisp wrappers thrown needlessly from cars, vans and trucks by drivers and passengers.

Littering is an offence which carries a fixed penalty notice of £50, and offenders can be liable for a maximum penalty of £2,500 if the case goes to court.

Items regularly thrown from cars onto Scotland’s roads and rails include cans and bottles, fast food packaging, cigarettes and cigarette packets, and other items such as plastic sheeting.

Through the day of action, the supporting organisations are sending a clear message that littering won’t be tolerated, whist highlighting the effect this has on people’s safety, the landscape and the environment.Transport Minister Keith Brown said:

“There is no excuse for littering and the Transport Litter Day of Action will send out a very clear message that it's an offence which won’t be tolerated.

“The problem causes an unnecessary eyesore and creates an environmental problem that costs tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money to clean-up. It also runs the risk of spoiling the visitor experience for tourists who continue to come to Scotland in their droves.

"In the run-up to 2014 when the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup will both be staged in Scotland, we want the watching world to see Scotland at its very best - and that includes litter free roads and rail stations.

“Working with partner agencies, we need to change the culture in Scotland to one where this type of behaviour is viewed as being completely unacceptable - a view already shared by the vast majority of the public.

"By focusing on education, litter initiatives and enforcement at a local level, we can tackle this very real problem, and work towards Scotland becoming a zero waste society."

Iain Gulland, Director of Zero Waste Scotland, which chairs the Transport Litter Group, said:

“Littering is a national problem which continues to blight Scotland’s landscape. Not only does it damage our environment, it poses unnecessary danger to other motorists and their passengers, and it costs a huge amount to deal with an entirely preventable problem.

“There is no excuse for people throwing litter from their vehicles when it can be disposed of responsibly at the end of a journey. By highlighting the efforts made to keep our roads and rail stations clean and safe, we hope to influence behaviour and make people think twice about needlessly littering.”

Colin Mackenzie, Amey’s account director for south west Scotland said:

“Amey is a proud member of Keep Scotland Beautiful and fully supports the Transport Litter Day of Action as not only is litter troublesome across the motorway network but also on slip roads where drivers discard their drinks cans, crisp packets, and leftover food from open car windows.

“Our Scottish Trunk Roads Unit (STRU) contract was recently awarded a commendation in the Vision in Business for the Environment Awards in Scotland (VIBES) for our sustainable and low carbon approach to managing the south west motorway network. Our operatives spend over 14,000 hours collecting an incredible 33,000 bags of rubbish each year from potentially dangerous, high speed motorway verges; totalling over 160 tonnes.

“We are wholeheartedly behind this appeal to motorists to stamp out littering and help clean up Scotland’s roads for good”.

Brian Devlin, Executive Director for Land and Environmental Services at Glasgow City Council said:

“Glasgow takes a very strong line on litter and fly-tipping and we lead the way, across Scotland, in taking enforcement action against the culprits.

“If someone drops litter while they are travelling, they might never see the impact – but every street is someone’s home and every bit of litter makes a huge difference to how people feel about the community where they live or work.

“We will be working with Amey to clear up the mess that offenders leave behind – but we will also be on the streets targeting the litter louts.”

Notes for EditorsGlasgow City Council’s activity during Transport Action Day of Litter will include:

Clearing slip roads from junction 15-17 of the M8 in conjunction with AMEY
Enforcement teams from Land and Environmental Services and Glasgow Community Safety Services patrolling key transport hubs , including Partick rail station, Central and Queen Street stations, Buchanan Bus station and the Fotheringay Road/Shields Road area in the city’s southside

About Zero Waste Scotland:

Zero Waste Scotland works with businesses, communities, individuals and local authorities to help them reduce waste, recycle more and use resources sustainably.
Zero Waste Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government to support the delivery of its Zero Waste Plan.
More information on all Zero Waste Scotland’s programmes can be found at www.zerowastescotland.org.uk.

For further information about Zero Waste Scotland contact:Nicola McGovern, Press & PR ManagerTel: 01786 468890Mob: 07540 516156E-mail: nicola.mcgovern@zerowastescotland.org.uk

Re Pet expansion plans get boost from WRAP fund

ian.palmer — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:03:35 +0000

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County Durham-based plastics waste recycling company Re Pet is to expand its operations after securing second round investment support, including £100,000 from the WRAP Accelerating Growth Fund.

Re Pet was set up in 2010 to recycle waste plastics, turning it into sheeting for use by retailers for product branding and packaging. The company has now obtained total second round investment of £500,000, and plans to invest £1.6m in new state-of-the-art machinery and equipment which will help it double its output.

The WRAP Accelerating Growth Fund is aimed at encouraging growth in businesses and the building of UK infrastructure within the waste and recycling sector.

John Forrest, Re Pet managing director, said: “We’re delighted to have secured such substantial investment which will allow the expansion of our business to be accelerated.”

WRAP’s vision is a world without waste, where resources are used sustainably. It works in partnership to help businesses, individuals and communities improve resource efficiency.
Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found on www.wrap.org.uk

Business Recycling and Waste Services Commitment Workshop

ian.palmer — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:45:44 +0000

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A workshop dedicated to the Local Authority Business Recycling and Waste Services Commitment is to be held in London later this month. Organised by WRAP as part of the EPOW programme (European Pathway to Zero Waste), the workshop will be held in the Grand Connaught Rooms, London, on Tuesday 28 February.

Open to all local authorities, the day-long workshop will examine good practice and how local authorities can support businesses in using fewer resources and recycling more. Underpinning the event will be details of the Business Recycling and Waste Services Commitment, a Government initiative that provides a framework for authorities on services they could provide to businesses. The Commitment is being administered by WRAP, the Waste & Resources Action Programme.

Linda Crichton, Head of Collections & Quality WRAP, said; “We have received a lot of interest from councils since the Commitment was launched. This workshop is an excellent opportunity to share good practice advice first-hand, and discuss the barriers and solutions to business waste issues, and meeting the principles of the Commitment.”

Aimed at local authority waste and recycling officers and senior managers, the free workshop will run from 10am - 4pm with contributions from the following speakers:

Louise Clark, Commercial and Industrial Waste Policy Lead, Defra;
Stephen Didsbury, Head of Waste & Street Services, the London Borough of Bexley;
Bruce Bratley, CEO First Mile; and
David Caro, Energy and Environment Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses

Delegates will be able to take part in a special session addressing barriers and solutions to meeting the Commitment’s principles; discussing what good practice looks like; and developing the business case for service provision.

Stephen Didsbury, Head of Waste & Street Services at the London Borough of Bexley; one of the first councils to sign the commitment said: “Bexley was very keen to sign the Business Recycling and Waste Services Commitment. The commitment helps give a clear indication of the quality and comprehensive service we offer in our borough. It will help in marketing and raise awareness of these services to our local small and medium size businesses.”

Councils interested in the Commitment can access a free resource packon the WRAP website including good practice guides and communications materials, case studies and links to other advisory organisations. One-to-one support is also available from WRAP on request, including feasibility studies for accepting business waste and recycling at Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCS).

Spaces for the workshop are limited and advance booking is necessary. For more information please e-mail luke.richmond@lrsconsultancy.com
The Business Recycling and Waste Services Commitment was developed by Defra in partnership with the Local Government Association and a steering group including local authorities, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Confederation of British Industry and WRAP.
European Pathway to Zero Waste (EPOW) is a LIFE+ funded programme that will investigate practical ways to achieve zero waste to landfill in the South East of England and will share the results with relevant EU regions. Zero waste in this context is an approach to supporting the sustainable use of resources by business to benefit both the economy and the environment. It concentrates on reducing, re-using, recycling and recovering energy from waste.
WRAP’s vision is a world without waste, where resources are used sustainably. It works in partnership to help businesses, individuals and communities improve resource efficiency. Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found on www.wrap.org.uk

New hotline to help us ‘gift on’ the good stuff

chris.meikle — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:31:31 +0000

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A new freephone hotline which aims to make it easier for people across many parts of Scotland to donate quality, unwanted goods - like furniture, working electrical items, and clothing - for re-use by others has been launched today.

To mark the launch, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead met representatives from Zero Waste Scotland, the Wise Group and the Edinburgh Furniture Initiative, one of the re-use organisations signed up to collect goods referred by the hotline, in a ‘pop up living room’ made from re-used items outside the Scottish Parliament.

Funded by Zero Waste Scotland, the re-use hotline - 0800 0665 820 - will initially cover 16 local authority areas, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fife, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeenshire and Dumfries and Galloway. Aiming to cover the whole of Scotland by the end of the year, the service will extend to other local authority areas as more re-use organisations sign up to take part.

The hotline will help householders pass on suitable goods to others by arranging for a local re-use organisation to come and collect items for free. The re-use hotline will be managed by social enterprise the Wise Group.

Recent ground-breaking research by WRAP identified that more materials could be re-used. Only a very small proportion of items commonly suitable for re-use are being donated. Instead they are sent to landfill disposal or recycling.

Unwanted household item	% donated for re-use	% send to landfill disposal or recycling
Sofa	17%	83%
Dining Table	17%	83%
TV	13%	87%
Washing Machine	3%	97%
T-shirts	50%	50%

The study, which looked at the benefits of reusing eight common items, showed that Scotland already saves almost 85,000 tonnes of CO2 by reusing these items alone at current rates. This is the equivalent of taking more than 25,000 cars off our roads.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

“This pilot service - which if successful will become Scotland’s first national Re-use Hotline - will make it easier to donate goods to be re-used by others.

“Re-use saves new items being made from scratch which in turn saves raw materials and energy. It also gives people the chance to pick up some great bargains and save money. Buying re-used items already saves Scottish householders over £80m a year.

“Clearly there are many more items we could re-use, and the Re-use Hotline will be a valuable source of information and service. Only 40% of us say we have donated to charity shops in the last year – clearly a much better option than needlessly throwing our used items in the bin.”

The re-use hotline is one part of Zero Waste Scotland’s work to support the re-use sector, which aims to boost donations, raise awareness and encourage more people to shop in their local re-use store with confidence.

Iain Gulland, Director of Zero Waste Scotland, said:

“Nobody wants to throw out perfectly good things, and re-use provides an outlet for unwanted items to be put to a good use.

“As more re-use organisations sign up to the scheme, we hope the re-use hotline will provide a local collection service to everyone in Scotland. This will make it easier for more people to donate suitable items for re-use rather than throwing them in the bin.

“As well as increasing donations, our vision for the future is that more people think to visit a re-use outlet when replacing or buying the things they need. We are working to develop a strong network of re-use organisations which offer quality goods at competitive prices.”

Matt Lopata from Edinburgh Furniture Initiative said:

“Encouraging more people to donate their reusable goods to us is one of our top priorities. The idea of having a single telephone line number for re-use is great. We know people are really keen to donate items, but it’s not always easy to know how. This is an excellent solution.”

Brian Canning, Head of Sustainability at the Wise Group, said:

“We are very excited to be working with Zero Waste Scotland and local organisations to give people’s unwanted items an appreciative new home. We will also be working with Local Authorities who will help us promote this service to their residents.”

Further boost to plastics recycling

ian.palmer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:22:24 +0000

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WRAP is delighted to announce that the UK’s capability to recycle plastic packaging has been given a further boost this week with funding provided to recycle an additional 15,000 tonnes of rigid plastic packaging at ECO Plastics’ facility in Lincolnshire.

The £1.15million loan from WRAP will enable ECO Plastics to extend its existing bottle sorting and processing facility, to now recycle a total of 150,000 tonnes of plastics annually. The investment complements the joint venture that the business formed with Coca-Cola Enterprises last year and will mean that its Hemswell facility is now better able to process rigid plastic packaging such as tubs, pots and trays, as well as plastic bottles.

Following WRAP's funding of the Biffa Polymers plant in Redcar in 2010, this is another important step towards building the reprocessing infrastructure that the UK needs to effectively recycle more of our plastic resources.

It is important that rigid plastic packaging is effectively recycled as if not carried out properly rigid plastics can contaminate the highly valuable plastic bottle waste stream – which would not be good for the economy or the environment. As the UK's capacity to process non-bottle plastics packaging grows, it will ultimately become viable for local authorities to routinely collect non-bottle plastics packaging from households at kerbside.

Over the next three to five years, WRAP aims to support higher recycling rates for all plastics packaging, but in a way that allows quality to be maintained so that the best environmental and economic outcomes can also be achieved. WRAP aims to increase the UK's capacity to recycle its rigid plastic packaging by 100,000 tonnes per year through the Mixed Plastics Loan Fund.

Environment Minister, Lord Taylor said: “I’m delighted to see this investment in ECO Plastics. It will increase the amount of plastic that gets recycled by 15,000 tonnes, helping to protect the environment and save businesses money by cutting back on their use of raw materials. The recycling industry is growing and we’re working to help companies gain a foothold in this exciting new marketplace which will help us become a zero-waste economy.”

Marcus Gover, Director of the Closed Loop Economy programme at WRAP said: "Recycling is a great British industry and this funding represents a further confidence boost. Getting the right reprocessing infrastructure in place is crucial to turning the developing interest in mixed plastics collections from local authorities into a reality. I’d encourage anyone with an interest in recycling plastic packaging to check the criteria of our Mixed Plastics Loan Fund."

Jonathan Short, Managing Director of ECO Plastics said: "The processing of non-bottle rigid plastics packaging is the next logical step in UK plastics recycling infrastructure. But it is vitally important that we don’t run before we can walk - the processing infrastructure must be in place before we encourage further non-bottle rigid plastics collection across the UK. Even after this investment, current collections far outweigh the available processing capacity, which remains a serious risk to the whole industry.

“We support WRAPs vision to see this growth occur in the medium term, allowing companies like ECO Plastics to develop markets for the non-bottle plastic recyclate. It is an essential ingredient for a successful industry.”

The facility based in North Lincolnshire will employ an additional 12 local people, creating sustainable jobs in addition to further developing the UK's green economy with home grown processing and manufacturing - turning 'waste' into resources.

For more information about WRAP's mixed plastics loan fund to support the development of UK based mixed plastics recycling infrastructure, please visit www.wrap.org.uk/mplf

WRAP’s vision is a world without waste, where resources are used sustainably. It works in partnership to help businesses, individuals and communities improve resource efficiency.
Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found on www.wrap.org.uk
ECO Plastics secured £650,000 from WRAP’s mixed plastics development loan fund, and £500,000 from WRAP’s accelerating growth fund, aimed at speeding up the growth of viable businesses
Both loan funds have clear criteria for eligibility which can be found at: www.wrap.org.uk/funding

About ECO Plastics:

ECO Plastics is Europe’s leading ethical plastic bottle recycler. The business began re-processing post consumer plastics in 2006 and has over the past five years invested over £17m to quadruple its processing capacity and triple the factory footprint. During early 2009 it became the first UK company to receive food grade accreditation for its rPET resin.

A further £15m expansion is currently underway to service the business’ ground-breaking joint venture with Coca-Cola Enterprises. This investment will create a facility which is now the largest and most sophisticated in Europe. On completion the extended plant will be able to process 150,000 tonnes of mixed plastic bottles a year, producing 40,000 tonnes of food-grade rPET pellet per annum.

ECO Plastics’ superior cleaning technology allows the company to make the most use of the plastic it sorts, producing 11 different streams of plastic, including food-grade PET. Virtually no waste is left over. Independent research has shown that ECO Plastics’ process is 68% less carbon intensive than using virgin plastics for packaging.

New WRAP guide launched to help local authorities boost plastic bottle recycling

sophie.hadden — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:13:49 +0000

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A new technical guide that aims to help local authorities increase plastic bottle recycling rates has been launched today by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).

With demand for PET and HDPE recyclate soaring, WRAP says local authorities have a significant opportunity to boost overall recycling rates by focusing on collections of plastic bottles.

Linda Crichton, Head of Collections at WRAP, says the growth in plastic bottle recycling has been remarkable over the past 10 years.

“Back in 2000, only around 12,000 tonnes of plastic bottles were recycled in the UK – it’s now nearly 20 times that amount,” she says. “We’re also seeing rapid growth in domestic infrastructure to reprocess plastic bottles, some of which are even producing recycled food grade materials. Around half of the plastic bottles collected for recycling are now reprocessed in the UK.”

She adds that maximising the capture of plastic bottles at the kerbside could be a way for local authorities to reach towards the targets to recycle 50 per cent of household waste in England and 60 per cent in Scotland by 2020.

New communications materials, focussed on the collection of plastic bottles have also been published today to help local authorities in England and Scotland engage residents in any service changes.

A technical guide and supporting communications materials focussing on the collection of rigid household plastic packaging is due to be published by WRAP in the spring.

WRAP’s vision is a world without waste, where resources are used sustainably. It works in partnership to help businesses, individuals and communities improve resource efficiency.
Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found on www.wrap.org.uk

New fund launched to help small businesses work together to recycle more

chris.meikle — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:44:46 +0000

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Zero Waste Scotland has launched a new support fund today which aims to make it easier for small businesses to identify and take forward innovative and cost-effective solutions to help them recycle more and comply more easily with proposed Zero Waste Regulations.

By collecting larger quantities of recyclable waste materials together in one place or joining together to contract one waste manager to provide collections, small businesses could stand to make financial savings, increase their recycling rates and reduce their environmental impact by working together.

Up to four projects will receive funding in the pilot phase of the fund. Marking an initial investment of up to £50,000, Zero Waste Scotland says further funding could become available at a later date if the pilot projects prove to be successful.

New Zero Waste Regulations proposed by the Scottish Government will require all Scottish businesses to sort and present key recyclable materials for separate collection by 2013. This includes separate collections for paper and card, plastics, metals, and glass.

For businesses in food retail, production or preparation, a separate food waste collection will also be required by 2013 for businesses with over 50 employees. By 2015, businesses with fewer employees will be asked to follow suit.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

“By working together small businesses can take advantage of innovative solutions to increase recycling and ultimately reduce their costs. This pilot fund will support some of the first of these collaborations and will show the real financial and environmental benefits of working together.

“Regulation will boost Scotland’s economy by ensuring quality waste materials do not end up in landfill – becoming a resource, rather than a problem. Helping make recycling cost-effective, practical and easy for small businesses is very important if Scotland is to make the most of its resources and meet our zero waste ambitions.”

Marissa Lippiatt, Head of Business Support for Zero Waste Scotland, said:

“We are committed to helping Scotland’s businesses adapt to meet the requirements of the Zero Waste Regulations.

“Working together to collect and manage commercial waste can allow small businesses to overcome common problems which can make recycling seem challenging, such as lack of space to store recycling or low quantities making waste collection contracts more costly.

“The fund is available to business improvement districts, community groups, or properly constituted business groups who would like to either research the viability of a collaborative recycling project or take steps to implement one. We will consider funding activities including waste data collection and composition analysis, business case and procurement support, options appraisal and service reviews, and capital to purchase or lease equipment.

“Scotland’s commercial sector produces an estimated 6.57million tonnes of waste every year. Businesses can save money by taking action to prevent waste in the first place. After ensuring we are efficient in our use of resources, recycling as much as possible is the next important step.”

Applications to the fund can be made at www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/content/new-business-models-sme-recycling-nfp001-000-pilot-programme. Zero Waste Scotland requests initial expressions of interest are made by emailing lesley.mcmurtrie@zerowastescotland.org.uk before Friday 3 February 2012.

The new fund is just one part of Zero Waste Scotland’s business support programme, which aims to help businesses make the most of their resources in the first place as well as providing advice to help businesses recycle more and to a higher standard.

An online training course, On Course for Zero Waste, to help SME's identify, appropriately manage and reduce the waste they generate, and the resources they use is available at http://smetraining.zerowastescotland.org.uk/. Zero Waste Scotland also offers free and confidential reviews to businesses in the food and drink sector focusing on waste associated with products and packaging, in order to identify opportunities to cut costs and improve efficiencies.

Malaby Biogas is first to benefit from WRAP AD Loan Fund

ian.palmer — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:02:55 +0000

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Wiltshire-based company Malaby Biogas has become the first recipient of a loan from a £10m anaerobic digestion fund launched in July last year by Defra and administered by WRAP.

The one-off £800,000 loan will be added to other funding secured by Malaby Biogas, including support from Clydesdale Bank, to construct and commission a new anaerobic digestion plant on the site of a redundant 12-acre smallholding.

Construction of the new £5m plant, located at Bore Hill Farm to the south of Warminster, Wiltshire, is already under way and Malaby, and its technology provider Marches Biogas, hope that commissioning will begin in March.

“Feedstock for the plant will be non-packaged food waste supplied by a new commercial collection operator with additional material potentially coming from other commercial and industrial food waste providers within the local area,” explained Malaby director Thomas Minter.

“Initially the plant will process around 17,000 tonnes of waste a year and we’d hope to be able to handle up to 20,000 tonnes at full capacity.”

The plant is expected to generate 4.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year, the equivalent required to power 1,000 homes. Around seven per cent of this is likely to be used to power the AD plant itself, and any excess that is generated will be sold on to National Grid.

“Malaby is the first of what we hope will be a number of companies to benefit from the anaerobic digestion loan fund and it is excellent to see such good progress being made at the Wiltshire plant,” said WRAP director Steve Creed.

“We’re currently considering a number of other applications, and the new round of loan awards for 2012 has just begun, so we’d encourage anyone who is interested in the fund to get in touch with us.”

Defra Minister Lord Taylor said: “The energy that can be created from food waste that would otherwise lie rotting in landfill is astonishing. This £800,000 investment from our £10 million anaerobic digestion fund will help this new plant to be built so we can harness that energy to power our towns and cities and remove a cause of greenhouse gas emissions form landfill.”

Richard Nuttall, Business Partner - Natural Resources, Clydesdale Bank said: "Clydesdale Bank is delighted to support Malaby Gas Ltd in the development of this venture which we believe to be an excellent project. We have also been pleased to work alongside WRAP on the provision of this finance for Malaby Biogas Ltd."

A maximum of £10m is available, through individual loans ranging from £50,000 - £1m, over a five-year period.

Applications for the current round can be submitted before 30th April.

WRAP’s vision is a world without waste, where resources are used sustainably. It works in partnership to help businesses, individuals and communities improve resource efficiency.
Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found on www.wrap.org.uk
For details fo the AD Loan Fund click here
Contact for press inquiries at Clydesdale is Natasha Lobley, 0141 242 4100 natasha.lobley@eu.nabgroup.com

£500,000 fund to support business food waste collections in England

ian.palmer — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:38:11 +0000

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A fund of half a million pounds was today launched to support demonstration projects which encourage the collection of food waste from businesses and public sector buildings.

The fund, totalling £500,000 over the next 3 years, is managed by WRAP on behalf of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It will give the private sector, local authorities and social enterprises the economic support for developing demonstration projects to show good practice and encourage the further development of food waste collection services from businesses in England. It will support greater recycling of food waste by anaerobic digestion and improved provision of recycling services to businesses, particularly to SMEs.

Collection schemes eligible for the fund are those servicing commercial businesses such as restaurants, hotels and catering firms, and public sector organisations including council offices and other public sector buildings.

Recycling Minister Lord Taylor said:

“This new fund will give businesses and community groups a better opportunity to find ways that actually work for them to keep food out of landfill.

“People want to do the right thing, and we know that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for business waste collection. We need to see innovative solutions put forward that will help set businesses on the path to a zero-waste economy.”

Linda Crichton, Head of Collections & Quality at WRAP who oversees the fund, said:

“There has been a good level of interest expressed during the development of this fund. The maximum value of a grant under this current round will be £100,000 per applicant and this can be used towards capital items such as vehicles, collection bins and caddies, or for labour and overheads costs.”

She added: “Applications will be assessed against published criteria, and must demonstrate good practice approaches to collecting business food waste, as well as outlining ways of both reducing service costs and maximising food waste recycling.”

A collection tonnage target will be agreed for each successful applicant over a two-year period and WRAP will work with successful recipients to provide advice on service development and implementation as required.

All collected food waste must be recycled through an anaerobic digestion (AD) or In vessel composting (IVC) process in England.

Household food waste collections are not eligible for the fund, but bids including schools and public buildings are. Applications which include the co-collection of other materials with food waste are welcomed - but only the food element of such schemes will be eligible for funding.
The fund begins on 1st January 2012
WRAP’s vision is a world without waste, where resources are used sustainably. The organisation works in partnership to help businesses, individuals and communities improve resource efficiency.
Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found on www.wrap.org.uk

Product re-use could hold key to issues of resource security, says WRAP

ian.palmer — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:24:19 +0000

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Growth of the world’s emerging economies, and a corresponding increase in the consumption of the raw materials needed for the manufacture of goods and services means that resource security is an issue of increasing importance for the UK.

But the resulting pressure on securing the often scarce or expensive materials that are vital to new, green technologies could be eased if the UK took a different approach to the way it consumes these resources, according to Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) chief executive, Dr Liz Goodwin.

Speaking at the Green Alliance / CBI conference ‘Building resilience: resource security and the role of the circular economy’, Dr Goodwin said that by pursuing the opportunities for reuse, the UK could reduce its reliance on raw materials, including rare earths, by as much as 20% by 2020.

WRAP estimates that around 600 million tonnes of products and material enter the UK economy each year, with only around 115 million tonnes being recycled. “Rare earth metals account for just 1,600 tonnes of this flow, but they are found everywhere – from vehicles, TVs, computers and ceramics, fuels, energy generation, and pharmaceuticals,” she said.

“We are heavily dependent on these materials for so many everyday items, but recycling rates associated with these resources are generally very low, often below 1%.”

With this in mind, WRAP has identified some ‘quick win’ resource efficiency strategies, covering a range of materials including copper, lithium and cobalt as well as rare earths, which could not only help reduce the UK’s carbon footprint by 2020, but could also help address wider supply security issues.

“Our research shows that in general, it’s the strategies that extend the life of goods or reduce the consumption of electronic and electrical goods that have the greatest impact,” said Dr Goodwin.

“The biggest ‘quick win’ impacts can be attribute to four approaches – lean production, waste reduction, lifetime optimisation and ‘goods to services’, where the number of leased products is increased and the number of outright purchases are decreased.”

Dr Goodwin highlighted the opportunities presented by tackling the amount of waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE). “We estimate that between now and 2020, in the UK, we’ll dispose of 12 million tonnes of WEEE. A quarter of this will comprise IT equipment, consumer electronics and display devices, which in turn, will contain around 63 tonnes of palladium, and 17 tonnes of iridium.

“At current market prices, this amount of palladium would be worth £1bn, and the iridium, around £380m.”

Recovering these valuable metals at the end of products’ useful life is one option, but as Dr Goodwin added, there are other strategies that would help make better of existing resources, and which may, in turn, lead to new, financially-viable business models.

She pointed to new WRAP research that shows that almost a quarter of all WEEE taken to household recycling centres has a reuse value, which could deliver £200 million gross revenue each year. “This alone could make 100 tonnes of rare earth elements – almost 10% of UK demand – available again,” she said.

“More than a fifth of the WEEE could be immediately sold on, or repaired and refurbished for resale, bringing financial benefits to those involved. The end result would be that we’d be a step closer to the elusive closed loop, green economy model.”

WRAP’s vision is a world without waste, where resources are used sustainably. It works in partnership to help businesses, individuals and communities improve resource efficiency.

Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found on www.wrap.org.uk

Waste electrical and electronic equipment could generate £millions, says WRAP

ian.palmer — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:33:30 +0000

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Almost a quarter of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) thrown out each year by consumers could be reused, generating more than £220 million in the process, according to new research released today by WRAP.

The study looked at the potential reuse value for items disposed of by consumers at household waste recycling centres and via local authority-run bulky waste collections. It concludes that there’s potential to create high resale value from repair, refurbishment and open market resale.

“We found that 23% of all the WEEE collected at recycling centres could have been either sold on straight away, or resold after repair and refurbishment,” said WRAP’s Lucy Keal, project manager for products and materials.

“This in turn, could generate gross revenues of more than £220 million a year - and even after taking account of the costs involved in acquiring the waste items and repairing or refurbishing them, this could still realise profits of more than £100 million.”

WRAP’s calculations are based on annual totals of 348,000 tonnes of WEEE taken to recycling sites, and a further 149,000 tonnes gathered in bulky waste collections.

“As you’d expect, the resale values vary depending on the categories,” said Lucy. “Smaller items typically have lower reuse potential but the proportion that is reusable has a higher value than other categories.

“Large domestic appliances such washing machines offer good potential value, from reuse, use of parts or from scrap, and make up 61% of the resale value from the bulky waste collections. Fridges and freezers offer particularly good reuse potential if they’re still working.”

She added: “This research demonstrates the crucial importance of promoting the reuse of WEEE. We’re currently throwing away equipment that’s in perfect working order, or could be easily repaired or refurbished for someone else to use.

“Consumers often assume it will be cheaper to replace items rather than have them repaired, but it’s clear from our research that there’s real value to be had from these discarded goods.”

The full report can be found here:
Consumer equipment is the category of WEEE most commonly brought to Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) – one third is equipment such as DVD and video recorders, radios and TVs. This is followed by smaller household appliances.
Certain WEEE streams have a far lower resale value compared to other categories. Cathode ray tube TVs, for example, have nil or negative value.
Consumer equipment (TVs, radios, DVD players etc.) is less likely to be disposed of because it is broken compared to other types of WEEE. Over half at HWRCs is thrown away because it is being replaced with a newer item or is no longer wanted.
Testing found that 12% of WEEE at HWRCs is in full working order, with a further 11% viable for resale following repair.
30% of respondents consider their WEEE item to be in full working order – far greater than proves to be the case.
It is estimated that 89,000 tonnes of WEEE are also disposed of in residual waste at HWRCs, with a suggested potential resale value of £28 million. An estimated 160,000 tonnes of WEEE are disposed of via residual household waste collections. Taking account of its likely condition, this stream could have a resale value of up to £56 million. Note that these totals should not be aggregated, as there may be the potential for overlap.
WRAP’s vision is a world without waste, where resources are used sustainably. It works in partnership to help businesses, individuals and communities improve resource efficiency.
Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by government funding from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found on www.wrap.org.uk