Local Authority Waste & Recycling Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/540577
RCV SPOTLIGHT cotland's relentless march to extract ever greater value from its waste streams has seen it become something of a poster child for resource optimisation. The push towards circularity is already underpinned by legislative obligations and targets, and this commitment will be embedded further with the publication of a governmental circular economy road map later this year. It's been 18 months since the Scottish Waste Regulations came into effect, requiring among other things all businesses and organisations to present key recyclable material for collection, and for food waste businesses producing over 50kg of food waste per week to present it for separate collection. The regulations are phased, meaning that smaller food waste producers will have to follow suit from next year – along 8 Local Authority Waste & Recycling August 2015 S with local authorities, who will have to offer a food waste recycling service in non-rural areas. These far-reaching reforms are already having an affect on RCV fleet requirements. Geesinknorba's regional business manager for Scotland, Colin McMorine, says the company is seeing dedicated vehicles being sourced for food waste collections north of the border. "Dedicated food waste vehicles do not require compaction, they tend to be just a simple vessel with a basic paddle to help loading and a tipping mechanism. As such, they tend to be cheaper than standard vehicles. "Some operators prefer the flexibility of standard vehicles which can be used for a whole variety of collections. On domestic rounds, vehicles with pods for food waste can be used to maximise the efficiency of a round, otherwise smaller, dedicated vehicles are preferred." Heil Farid European Company is reporting a similar trend. "More and more councils have purchased dedicated food waste collection vehicles from [us]. As councils increase and expand their geographical areas that receive a food waste collection service, an increase in dedicated food waste collection vehicles to meet this demand has been experienced," says Kevin Crowder, the company's sales & marketing director. Buoyant market This level of purchasing activity is pleasing the likes of Dennis Eagle, who sees the Scottish market as very buoyant " Waste collection is done mostly in-house north of the border " How is Scotland's agenda driving RCV requirements? As Scotland steams ahead with its devolved zero waste push, Maxine Perella explores whether RCV operators north of the border are demanding something different