LAWR

fuelled by the rise in local authority food waste collections for businesses, which came into effect on 1 January 2014. Participating Scottish local authorities currently pick up 8,000 tonnes of household food waste each year, but the introduction of the Scottish Government's Zero Waste Plan could see that figure rise to 72,000 tonnes if all 32 councils roll out weekly food waste collection schemes. Financial support package The Northern Ireland Assembly has introduced a landfill ban on source segregated food waste from April 2015, and the Welsh Assembly has formally recognised as part of their 'Food Waste Treatment Programme', "that AD technology has a greater potential to have a positive impact on climate change than other food waste treatment technologies… [and so] we have created a capital and revenue financial support package for local authorities who wish to adopt AD technol- ogy". Welsh local authorities have, therefore, formed collabora- tive procurement hubs to jointly secure food waste treatment capacity, the results of which are highlighted in the latest WRAP data showing that 95% of Welsh local authorities offer separate food waste collections. Andy Rees, head of Waste Strategy for the Welsh Government, explains that this progress has been borne out of, "additional funding provided by the Welsh Government for separate food waste collections by all 22 local authori- ties". There is increasing recognition of the importance of a national waste action plan in England, with a House of Lords Science & Technology Select Committee report recommend- ing last year that "a long-term policy goal should be the crea- tion of a more standardised system of waste collection across local authorities which views waste as a valuable resource". In addition, the Department for Transport's gas strategy for Heavy Goods Vehicles also recognised that providing biomethane as a low-carbon fuel requires a waste policy which supports AD. The absence of such policy in England risks severely con- straining food waste plants, which in some cases are already experiencing difficulties in sourcing feedstock. Clarity on the desired long term objectives of waste management could, therefore, make a huge difference. With a general election in five months' time, clear commit- ments from all political parties to recognise the value of food waste and to implement segregated collections would help businesses plan and invest. As pressure on natural resources increases, realising the full potential of the resources we are currently throwing away will only become more important. Charlotte Morton is chief executive of the Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA). January 2015 Local Authority Waste & Recycling 15 ANAEROBIC DIGESTION PRIORITY PRIORITY PRIORITY PRIORITY PRIORITY PRIORITY YOUR AIR QUALITY YOUR AIR QUALITY YOUR AIR QUALITY YOUR AIR QUALITY YOUR AIR QUALITY YOUR AIR QUALITY 01905 362100 www.airspectrum.com Odours Gone! THE QUALITY AIR EXPERTS MOBILE SOLUTIONS • fans • rotary atomisers • odr NEUTRALISING ADDITIVE neutralisers

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