Contaminated waste being sent to Scotland’s material recovery facilities (MRFs) is hindering the recovery of quality material, according to a report published in previous weeks by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.
The report is one of the first of its kind to be published by the regulator on the quality of waste coming into and leaving material recovery facilities and examines data from several MRFs that met the reporting criteria, covering the period of October 2015 to May 2017.
The data presented showed that of the 327,760 tonnes of Scotland’s recyclable waste that was received, the contamination rate ranged from 0.91% to 43.04% – a national average figure of 17%. However, SEPA noted that this figure does not include waste that was so badly contaminated it does not make it to the recycling facility and instead is sent to energy from waste facilities or landfill.
Furthermore SEPA addressed that the quality and quantity of the waste sent for recovery is ‘critical’ to ensuring that maximum value is derived from the resources circulating in the economy – as well as building economic benefits to Scotland.
It has been reported over the previous few weeks that a number of Recycling companies are taking action to tackle a reported national shortage of qualified drivers.
The shortage has been increased due to a number of factors including job demands as well as the strict requirements around licensing for drivers. Concerns have also been raised of the availability of drivers post-Brexit.
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) confirmed that driver shortage has been an ongoing concern for the last 15 years if not more.
James Hookham, deputy chief executive of the FTA said: “It’s a big problem and it’s not going away."
“There’s several factors, it’s quite demanding work, it’s not a cosy office job. It also demands a lot of energy and attention. You can’t just do a course. You need a licence and training, and it’s quite expensive. So you can’t just walk out of a job and become a driver – it’s quite tough to get in to.”
It was also further explained that there is a low number of women joining the field, which is thought to be for a number of reasons, including lack of roadside facilities, which he said local authorities need to do more to provide. Mr Hookham also outlined the need to appeal to a younger generation.
Charges have been imposed for some wastes at civic amenity sites in West Sussex, which have since been withdrawn, did not result in an increase in fly tipping in the county- This was the message given to delegates at the annual National Civic Amenity Site conference held in Coventry. The view on a ‘no extra fly tipping’ result was further endorsed by Chris Chandler, senior waste manager for operations at Devon county council, who said his authority also levied charges for some materials and that there had also been no connection with fly tipping.
Negotiations are in place over the future of the EU’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive – which will impact the handling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
The Directive which has been in force since 2003 requires manufacturers of electrical goods to substitute potentially hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium, for safer alternatives within their products.
The Business Standards Company, BSI has launched an official standard for the Circular Economy (BS 8001: 2017).
Called a “Framework for implementing the principles of the circular economy in organizations,” the standard warns that “over the next 30 to 40 years unprecedented volatility and uncertainty seems likely. The global population is estimated to increase to around 8 billion by 2030, probably to over 9 billion by 2050, with increases in average wealth further raising the demand for products and services.”
