What’s Impacting the Scottish Waste Landscape?
The global waste landscape is changing and in Scotland, the infrastructure is impacted by several factors – political and economic. Add to this a dramatically increased customer focus on ESG goals and it’s clear to see why waste operators are feeling the pressure.
But what’s contributing to the changing landscape? Let’s deep diving into the catalysts defining the future of waste in Scotland.
NetZero and 2025 Waste and Recycling Targets
Scotland has ambitious targets for reducing waste and increasing recycling.
By 2025, the country aims to:
- reduce total waste arising in Scotland by 15% against 2011 levels
- reduce food waste by 33% against 2013 levels
- recycle 70% of remaining waste
- send no more than 5% of remaining waste to landfill
Tactics for achieving these goals include:
- discouraging use of single-use materials
- taking action to reduce and recycle food waste
- introducing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers
- funding Zero Waste Scotland to deliver waste-reducing initiatives
- funding SEPA to regulate on the treatment and disposal of waste
Scotland also aims to match the EU ambition for all plastic packaging to be economically recyclable or reusable by 2030.
Tax on Red Diesel
Back in April, the government imposed an increased tax on red diesel – putting it in line with the rate for standard white diesel and increasing costs by 55% essentially overnight.
As a sector that’s hugely reliant on red diesel the change is having a seismic impact on waste operators and their customers. The extra pinch on profitability and lack of cost certainty is driving waste handlers to use more innovative methods to reduce the mass and volume of waste at source – solutions such as biotechnology.
Rising Energy Prices
Rising energy costs affect every individual and business. The waste sector is no different. In the race to Net Zero, anything that impacts costs – and therefore the ability to invest in more sustainable, innovate solutions – will slow down the journey.