Truckloads of Scotland’s rubbish will be exported to England, say experts

An estimated 100 truckloads of Scotland’s waste will be transported daily to England once the landfill ban takes effect at year’s end, according to BBC’s Disclosure.

The Scottish government plans to ban “black bag” waste from landfills starting December 31, but acknowledges a shortage of incinerator capacity to handle the additional waste.

This prohibition will affect most domestic and commercial biodegradable municipal waste (BMW).

Scottish ministers emphasize that any waste export should be seen as a “temporary solution”.

Originally intended for implementation by 2021, the ban was postponed due to the Covid pandemic and business readiness concerns.

It will prohibit several materials from landfills, including non-recyclable black bag municipal waste, wood, textiles, paper, and food.

Biodegradable waste produces methane, a greenhouse gas about 28 times more potent than CO2.

Some inert materials, like ash from incinerators and construction debris, will still be accepted in landfills.

The goal of the Scottish government is to cease burying traditional black bag waste by improving recycling rates and increasing energy-from-waste incineration.

However, four years post-announcement, environmental consultants indicate that hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste remain unaccounted for.

Incinerators, or energy-from-waste facilities, are already processing more waste, but not enough will be operational by the December 31 deadline.

This creates a “capacity gap” estimated by Zero Waste Scotland to be 600,000 tonnes within the first year post-ban.

Some local authorities and commercial waste firms are in talks with waste handling operators in England for “bridging contracts”.

As most incinerators operate with minimal spare capacity, this will necessitate sending Scotland’s excess waste for landfilling in England.

The UK government also aims to eliminate biodegradable waste from landfills and initiated a consultation earlier this year, though no related policy exists south of the border.

David Balmer, a waste expert from ERS Remediation, reported to Disclosure: “You’re looking at the equivalent of 80 to 100 trucks running daily to transport this material to facilities in England or abroad.”

Concerns arise about whether such transportation can be logistically feasible.

Alasdair Meldrum, director of waste management consultants Albion Environmental, emphasized, “We likely lack the trucks and vehicles for movement.”

He further added, “The environmental implications of extensive transport are nonsensical, yet investors in incinerators argue, ‘We’ve put money into this because of the ban.’

“We find ourselves in a challenging situation.”

Gillian Martin, cabinet secretary for Climate Action and Energy, stated on BBC’s Good Morning Scotland that temporarily transporting waste is preferable to continuing landfill use.

She noted, “The incineration gap arises from various external factors, especially inflation and initial construction costs.

We plan for additional incinerators and energy from waste facilities in the coming year and the next three years—making this a temporary situation.”

While the ban aims to diminish greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, the immediate effect will be an increase in emissions from heavy transport vehicles traveling waste to centers in Cumbria, Northumberland, or potentially as far as Manchester.

The long-term vision is to minimize the “black bag” waste produced by households, reducing the amount needing incineration.

However, domestic recycling rates have stagnated over the last ten years.

In 2013, Scottish households recycled 41.6% of their waste, but by 2023 this percentage barely increased to 43.5%.

Comparative figures show England and Northern Ireland faring slightly better, while Wales boasts a remarkable 64.7% recycling rate.

Currently, Scotland operates eight incinerators.

Previously, there was a rush to construct more facilities, but the Scottish government halted developments fearing overcapacity.

The only new plants now under consideration have already entered the planning phase.

While incinerators contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, they are approximately a third less damaging than methane released by waste decomposition in landfills.

Moreover, they generate electricity and recover heat to supply local homes and buildings.

Colin Church, who chaired an independent review of incineration in Scotland, asserts that transitioning to incineration has been a wise decision.

He remarked to Disclosure: “Utilizing waste effectively, given our current technology, captures energy, making it a sensible choice.”

Environmental advocates worry that contracts mandating councils to direct waste toward incinerators may hinder local governments from investing in recycling enhancements.

Kim Pratt from Friends of the Earth Scotland criticized the waste management system as dysfunctional.

She stated, “Incineration is rampant in Scotland.”

She referenced the establishment of incinerators in Aberdeen and Falkirk, highlighting an upcoming one in North Ayrshire, all facing local opposition.

Waste activist Laura Young expressed concerns about the high running costs and significant contracts related to these facilities, which necessitate their utilization.

Douglas Lumsden, the Scottish Conservatives spokesperson on net zero and energy, questioned the effectiveness of the landfill ban if waste merely shifts to England.

He insisted on the need for the SNP to address this issue prior to the ban’s enforcement, or risk further failures in the transition to net zero.

In response, the Scottish government highlighted various initiatives aimed at reducing household waste and fostering a circular economy, promoting reuse.

These initiatives include prohibitions on single-use vapes, impending fees on disposable cups, and a proposed deposit-return scheme for cans and plastic bottles.

The government asserted that “most councils have alternative strategies ready” prior to the landfill ban enactment and “will collaborate closely with local authorities and relevant bodies to monitor any emerging concerns as the ban date approaches.”

Additionally, they reiterated, “Any waste export should only be considered a temporary solution.”

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