Biodegradable waste to be banned from landfill

Recycling plans which include banning household biodegradable waste from going to landfill have been unveiled by the Scottish Government.

The measures in the Zero Waste Regulations form part of efforts to make Scotland one of the top nations in Europe for recycling.

Other requirements mean businesses must present material for recycling, and items collected for recycling will be banned from going to landfill. The landfill ban on biodegradable waste will be the first of its kind in the UK. There will also be new measures to remove key recyclables from unsorted waste before incineration.

Environment minister Richard Lochhead said: “Our ban on municipal biodegradable waste going to landfill by 2020 is the first of its kind in the UK and one of the most ambitious of its kind in Europe. It will make a significant contribution to reducing emissions from landfill and contribute to wider efforts to tackle climate change.”

Dr Dan Barlow, WWF Scotland’s head of policy, said: “An emphasis on ensuring collection and recovery of high quality recyclables provides the best economic and environmental value and the waste industry needs to respond by providing the quality of facilities and services which will deliver this.”