LAWR

8 Local Authority Waste & Recycling April 2015 he Waste (Scotland) Regulations came into force in January 2014, heralding what is perhaps the biggest game changer our industry has seen. The regulations require all businesses to separate key materials – plastic, glass, metal, paper and cardboard – for recycling, with businesses which produce more than 50kg of food waste a week also required to separate this food waste. From January 2016, businesses producing between 5kg and 50kg of food waste will be required to follow suit. Shortly after the introduction of the regulations, we announced the results of an independent survey showing that 83% of businesses were aware of the regulations, and that of those, almost 90% were confident of compliance – a great result to see at such an early stage. Just over one year on and indications suggest that the regulations are working, with waste management firms such as Keenan Recycling, based in Aberdeenshire, reporting an increase in customers and tonnages. Since January, Keenan has seen their customer base double, from 600 to 1,200, and is now processing an additional 400 tonnes of food waste a month. This additional waste has the potential to generate enough energy to power almost 400 households a year. The increase in business has allowed them to expand their fleet of vehicles and take on 15 new members of staff. It's great to see this material, which would otherwise have gone to landfill, generating energy and compost and in the process, helping a local company to expand their operations. Positive impact Keenan Recycling director Gregor Keenan says: "The new waste regulations have had a significant positive impact on Keenan Recycling. We have seen a dramatic rise in the demand for recycling services in both private and public sectors." We're delighted with the reception that the regulations have had, but of course a challenge still exists for us to engage with and support those businesses which need assistance to comply with the regulations. Resource Efficient Scotland, a programme of Zero Waste Scotland, is on hand to provide guidance and ensure compliance as part of a wider range of support on offer to help businesses minimise their use of energy, water and raw materials. We can also help businesses look at how much they are currently paying to have waste collected and to think about how to reduce the amount they produce. Businesses which will be affected by the second stage of the regulations, coming into force next January are advised to prepare for this now. First and foremost, contacting your current or potential waste contractor to see if they are signed up to Scotland's Resource Sector Commitment is advised. Scotland's Resource Sector Commitment is an industry-recognised standard of quality and customer service. The aim is to encourage continuous improvement and to enable businesses to reduce waste and become more resource efficient. By choosing a waste contractor which is signed up to the Commitment, businesses can be confident that they will be compliant with the regulations while receiving an excellent service and value for money. Training staff Staff engagement can also play a key role in successfully implementing regulation change, so it's important to train staff ahead of time, label bins accordingly and ensure your workforce knows where everything goes. Getting staff on board with the changes can really benefit the organisation as a whole. The successful introduction of the regulations last year is an encouraging indication that this next phase will also be received well, however we do recognise that for some businesses, making these changes can be difficult and time consuming. We'd urge any business likely to be affected by the regulations next January to get in contact with Resource Efficient Scotland and see just how simple and beneficial it can be. T Scotland is often held up on a pedestal in relation to its ambitious resource management policies. Last year, it introduced new regulations requiring businesses to separate key recyclables. One year on, Iain Gulland looks at the impact of the regulations on the Scottish recycling industry. One year on: Scottish waste regulations Food waste " The aim is to encourage continuous improvement " Iain Gulland is chief executive at Zero Waste Scotland.

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