Day One of the 2019 Scottish Resources Conference in Perth provided an update on a number of forthcoming policy and legislative developments which will have significant impacts on the circular economy.
There was much discussion about the proposed 'Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for Scotland Regulations 2020', which is out for consultation until December 2019. The indicative timescale for scheme implementation is around April 2021. The scheme will target the return of plastic bottles, metal cans and glass bottles, with 20 pence per container paid, at a mixture of sites, some with Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) and others using manual systems.
The general view was that Scotland will continue to implement the scheme without waiting to see what will transpire across the other countries of the UK. Those interested can provide their views on the draft regulations at the link below:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/deposit-return-schemme-scotland-regulations-accompanying-statement-proposed-regulations/
A further announcement was the intention to shortly produce a draft Circular Economy Bill. , One of the aims of the Bill will be to change attitudes to waste and to tackle what was described as the 'country’s throw away culture'. The Bill will include provisions to introduce charges on single-use items, for example, coffee cups, as well as littering from vehicles. Consultation on the new bill is anticipated to begin in the next few months.
The DRS and Circular Economy Bills are being taken forward at the same time as consultation is taking place across the UK on the future implementation of “Extended producer responsibility” (EPR) schemes and regulations. These are very much being considered with respect to incentivising behaviour and system change, with investment that results in valuable resources such as plastics being diverted from many of the current international recycling markets e.g. in Malaysia.
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, Mairi Gougeon confirmed the worst kept secret in Scotland that the landfill ban of biodegradable municipal waste, scheduled for January 1, 2021, will be delayed until 2025 due to the differences in levels of preparedness of local authorities. If not delayed, Scottish local authorities would incur significant costs, with the associated environmental impacts, of waste disposed of to English landfill sites.
The announcements at the conference are extremely significant in terms of how the resource management industry will be shaped in years to come and the importance of programmes such as Circular North-east become even greater.
Blog by Brian Menzies, director of Enscape Consulting and XS Resources