Recycling Up & Food Waste Tackled as Edinburgh Plans Energy Recovery Plant

Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh has achieved its highest ever recycling rate of 38%, according to the latest figures from the city council which has invited proposals for a dedicated waste to energy and recycling facility. The figures were published in a report which shows that the proportion of waste recycled increased 5% on last year’s figure and it is hoped it will continue to increase to meet the its ambitious target of a 50% recycling rate in 2014. Furthermore, the report said that the city’s residents are using waste disposal services more effectively with a drastic reduction in the number of overfilled bins and side waste. Food waste In addition to its dry recycling efforts, in line with the government’s target of ensuring that all local authorities provide a food waste management service by 2015, the Council has rolled out a waste strategy that will enable all Edinburgh residents to divert their food waste from landfill by the end of summer. The report showed that some 4390 tonnes of food waste was recycled last year, representing a 283% increase over the previous year. As “Following the Council’s work with Zero Waste Scotland we concluded that 70% of household waste can be recycled and a third of what people put in their bin is food waste, explained Councillor Jim Orr, vice convener for environment at the City of Edinburgh Council. To tackle the problem the council is working with bin manufacturer, Taylor, which has been appointed to provide some of the specialist food waste containers for high density housing areas throughout Edinburgh. According to Orr, by providing a dedicated stream for food waste the council can divert a significant proportion from landfill, but almost 50% of Edinburgh’s housing requires a communal approach to waste management. “Given the density and decomposition rate of food waste, managing it separately reduces the amount of capacity taken up in general waste containers and eliminates the unpleasant odours associated with food,” he said. Orr added that the next challenge is to increase recycling participation through targeted education and community engagement programmes. The Council now aims to meet its own targets of ensuring that 50% of all its waste is recycled by 2014 and 70% by 2025. Bids for a material and energy recovery plant According to the council proposals for a dedicated household waste processing facility have also taken a step forward through the Zero Waste: Edinburgh and Midlothian project. Three bidders – FCC Medio Ambiente SA, Urbaser and Viridor Waste Management - have been invited to submit detailed proposals by July 2013 for the treatment of mixed, unsorted waste collected by both Edinburgh and Midlothian Councils. The council said that procuring these facilities will add to the efforts of both Councils to increase recycling, with a dramatic reduction in the amount of waste sent to landfill and the generation of low-carbon, renewable heat and electricity. Each bidder must provide detailed information about its proposed pre-treatment facility, which must be located at the project site near Millerhill, in Midlothian. This facility will separate out any remaining marketable recyclables and produce a fuel for a waste to energy facility, which can be either onsite at Millerhill or offsite at a location of the bidders’ choosing. Read More SITA Introduces Closed Loop Recycling of Confidential Waste SITA UK has launched a new service which will recycle confidential waste into tissue products for the workplace. Debate over the Role of Design for Recycling and the Move to a Circular Economy The government’s role in the move to a circular economy is to “set the conditions”, but “a truly circular economy hinges on everyone playing their part”, said Resource minister Lord de Mauley at this year’s CIWM Conference. Food Waste & Producer Responsibility for UK WEEE Discussion Landfill bans for food waste and the need to reform producer responsibility schemes in the UK was debated at a session at this year’s CIWM Conference, held in partnership with Environmental Services Association.