Food Waste Segregation in Scotland
Food waste is a significant contributor to climate change. When thrown into landfills, it breaks down and releases methane, a greenhouse gas far worse than carbon dioxide. The production of food and drink in Scotland accounts for around 20% of Scotland’s carbon footprint. As a result, reducing commercial waste is crucial if we curb our carbon footprint and protect the environment. To achieve this, we must begin by measuring the food waste we generate and have a commercial waste management plan.
Please click here for more information and pricing on commercial waste.
Food Waste Segregation in Scotland: Environtment
Increasing segregation of household waste, including food waste, has several benefits. It helps meet legal obligations, improves resource efficiency and provides cost savings. In Scotland, the Scottish Waste Environmental Footprint Tool (SWEFT) has been developed to measure and report the environmental impacts of commercial waste. It helps policymakers assess the impact of business waste reduction initiatives, including food waste segregation.
The data shows the total carbon impacts of household waste in Scotland, broken down by production and end of life. The raw data is provided in SI 3. Data collection uses a hierarchy to determine the best options for different processes. Scotland-specific data is preferred over global or UK data. Grey literature sources (peer-reviewed academic papers and organisational reports) are used to supplement databases.
The process hierarchy is assigned to material types within commercial waste categories and life cycle stages. The dotted boundaries represent the benefits of each process. For example, incineration processes are broken down into constituent waste streams and recycled as bottom ash. By reducing the pressure on business waste management systems, households, processors, and farmers could lower their food costs. However, future studies should consider these systems in other geographical contexts.
The Scottish Environmental Management System (EMS) will become a widely adopted model throughout the EU in the UK. And the UK is a leading nation in this field. Therefore, the Scottish Government should continue to improve its system. Eco Peel Tech filtration system The Eco Peel Tech filtration system for food waste in Scotland is a unique solution to the current problem of poor wastewater management.
Developed by Malcolm Wood, this product blocks proteins and micro starch. Consequently, it is possible to separate 125kg of food waste peelings and sell them for biomass fuel or animal feed. The system can reduce water consumption by 50% by eliminating the need for treatment. The Eco Peel Tech filtration system is available to all public and private sector organisations. It is beneficial for local authorities that are considering food waste collection.
The Scottish Government intends to supplement the source segregation scheme by introducing this system.
Food Waste Segregation in Scotland: Future Plans
By 2030, the Scottish Government aims to phase out the non-domestic use of macerators and digesters.
It has backed the implementation of a food waste collection system and has already provided financial and technical support to 21 Scottish councils.
- The legal requirement for food waste segregation in the Scottish waste hierarchy is likely to spread to the rest of the UK in the coming years.
- Scotland has long advocated the separation of waste by type and is likely to continue through its Duty of Care policy.
- By segregating food waste from general commercial waste, Scotland will reduce contamination of other materials.
- It will also reduce emissions of harmful greenhouse gases.
- In addition, the law also helps businesses manage their costs by reducing their overall waste.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990(3), amended by the Waste Regulations, sets out specific requirements for waste segregation. The Regulations state that producers of controlled waste must separate dry recyclable and food waste from other materials.
However, co-mingling is allowed if the food waste is more than five kilograms in weight each week. It is also acceptable for mixing food waste with dry recyclable waste as long as it does not lead to a lower-quality material. The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 is a new law that came into force on May 17th. The Scottish Government aims to maximise the value of waste by encouraging recycling, creating Green jobs and boosting the economy.
The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 will help deliver the Zero Waste agenda in Scotland. In addition to recycling, the Regulations require businesses to segregate organic food waste. Disposing of food waste into public drains is illegal in non-rural areas but acceptable in rural areas. However, some organisations may decide to remove macerators and opt to remove them from their premises.
Regardless, businesses that do not comply with the new regulations risk a £10,000 fine. Further legislation is expected to address the problem. A list of postcodes in Scotland can be found on the Scottish Government’s website. Businesses in Scotland should be aware of the new regulations. Businesses should segregate food waste to reduce their carbon footprint. Food waste contributes to global warming, with a greater carbon footprint than plastic commercial waste.
Furthermore, it produces methane, one of the most damaging greenhouse gases. The Scottish Government is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2045. By separating food waste, Scottish households can reduce their carbon footprint. Cost of compliance The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 define “waste”. Businesses must segregate their food waste from other rubbish and collect it separately. It is then processed using anaerobic digestion (AD) technology to create biogas and dispense fossil fuels.
The process also creates organic fertiliser, replacing carbon-intensive chemical fertilisers, reducing food waste and contributing to Scotland’s renewable energy targets. The Regulations also include provisions on waste hierarchy and offering collection services to high-density housing. Zero Waste Scotland plans to provide additional support for businesses in the future and expects to expand its services to meet business needs.
Food Waste Segregation in Scotland: Education
Those seeking information on the Regulations should contact the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
The Cost of Scottish food waste segregation compliance will likely vary depending on the method used to manage food waste. The Food Waste Calculator, provided by Resource Efficient Scotland, is an online tool that can estimate the financial impact of different food waste management methods. The costs of these systems may vary, so a free online food waste calculator will help NHS Scotland hospitals decide which solution is best for them.
The Zero Waste Plan for Scotland aims to create a society where we contribute to the environment, not add to landfills. It aims to create a society where waste is sorted for recycling and used as energy. Moreover, it targets households, businesses, and other organisations producing food waste. With this in mind, Scottish businesses need to ensure that they do not dump food waste directly into the drains. Further legislation is in the works to deal with the problem.
Food Waste Segregation in Scotland – Learn more about UK business waste statistics here
Other useful links from our Commercial Waste Centre
The Benefits of Dry Mixed Recycling
Looking After Your Business Bins
Commercial Skip Hire – How to Find a Cheap Deal
Remember to Compare Your Business Costs is here to help your business every step of the way from business advice, or saving you time and money on your business purchases such as:
Ally Cox is a dedicated Copywriter and Blogger for CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk. In under two years, the platform achieved the esteemed accolade of ‘Website of the Year’. Since its award-winning debut, Ally has been instrumental in fostering organic growth for the website, expanding its offerings to encompass comparisons across a diverse range of over 20 products to help serve all your business needs.