Recycling

Review of Enforcement of Litter and Flytipping Offences in Scotland – By Helanna Cooper

Littering and fly tipping remain significant environmental challenges in Scotland, with substantial efforts focused on reducing these issues through enforcement mechanisms. However, a review of the current enforcement practices reveals both strengths and areas in need of improvement.     Littering and fly tipping have long plagued urban and rural areas, causing environmental degradation and public …

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The Circular Economy Bill: A New Era for Sustainability in Scotland

The Scottish Parliament has recently passed the landmark Circular Economy Bill, a significant step towards transforming the way Scotland manages its resources and waste.   This comprehensive legislation aims to foster a sustainable, circular economy by introducing a range of measures designed to reduce waste, increase recycling, and promote the reuse of materials. Here’s a …

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“What should a proper Green MSP be doing?”Written by John Crawford CIWM Life Member

There can’t be many folk who voted for the Scottish Green Party who aren’t mystified or disappointed by the recent priorities of their List MSPs. But what exactly should the electorate expect of them? Here are some suggestions.   Accept that Scotland’s contribution to global emissions is under 0.1% so any significant changes we might …

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The Garden Waste Debate: Exploring Scotland’s Permit System

  The Garden Waste Debate: Exploring Scotland’s Permit System   In recent years, many councils across Scotland have implemented a permit system for garden waste collection, raising questions about its effectiveness and fairness. With 21 out of 32 councils now charging for garden waste collection, it’s crucial to examine whether these permits are a sensible …

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Mitigating Microplastics

Mitigating Microplastics John Ferguson, Head of Strategy at Binn Eco Park in Tayside, Scotland, unwraps microplastics recovery from polymer recycling operations.   Much has been written about microplastics in recent decades as they proliferate across all aquatic and terrestrial eco-systems, posing profound ecological and human health risks. Microplastics originate from various sources, including the breakdown …

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Thoughts on DRS from Hamilton Waste & Recycling Ltd Managing Director

Robin Stevenson, Managing Director at Hamilton Waste & Recycling shared his thoughts on the Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland.   Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). We must find better ways of working together to ensure we don’t end up with a system that isn’t fit for purpose, or worse still is damaging to the way …

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Disposable Vapes – A health hazard in more ways than one

The popularity of disposable vapes / e-cigarettes in the UK has risen significantly over the past few years, with approximately 168 million disposable vapes purchased each year in the UK. The new phenomenon is alarmingly dangerous for both public health and environmental damage. Disposable vapes contain plastic, stainless steel, aluminium and a lithium battery and …

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DRS in Scotland – What are the unintended consequences?

Albion Environmental recently commented on the potential consequences of the Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland in response to this recent article from LetsRecycle. This article notes that Falkirk Council are due to stop kerbside glass collections when the DRS is introduced. Could this be one of the unintended consequences of DRS? In principle DRS is …

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