Cc: zwia@no.address,
gaia-members@no.address,
stopincinerators-us@no.address
From: Iain Gulland <iain@no.address>
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:40:42 +0000
To: gary@no.address
Subject: [GAIA] Re: [ZWIA] Fwd: Scottish Government may consider
burning
part of Zero Waste
thanks for posting this Gary
indeed as you are aware Scotland got a new government last year. The SNP
were elected for the first time and one of their manifesto commitments
was Zero Waste. They have since consulted with a range of industry types
on waste policy going forward and our Cabinet Secretary for the
Environment will make a statement on Thursday in Parliament on the 'road
to Zero Waste'.
Unfortunately the industry guys are still hoping that Zero Waste means
incineration as per the article below. I have suggested to the Government
that the eyes of the world are on Scotland this week in terms of seeing
if the Zero Waste ambition is just that or just an empty pledge which
will be compromised to feed the greed of the incinerator lobby. It would
be great for all you Zero Waste guys to send an e-mail of support to our
Cabinet Secretary extolling the virtues of the Zero Waste approach and
confirming indeed that all of the world is watching Scotland set its
course for Zero Waste without falling back on the incineration
option. Stating the links with community empowerment and jobs will also
be useful. Links to other countries, states, municipalities and towns etc
where they are doing the high diversion that we all know is now possible
would be very useful. One of the other SNP manifesto commitments on waste
was to learn from other countries.
The Cabinet Secretary's name is Richard Lochhead and his e-mail is
Richard.Lochhead.msp@no.address
I know that you are all very busy but
any support at this crucial time would be useful
many thanks
Iain Gulland
On 22 Jan 2008, at 01:52, Gary Liss wrote:
Apologies for
Cross-postings
Scottish Government set
to reveal direction for waste policy
21-01-2008
The Scottish government has said it
will announce more detail on its intentions for national waste policy
this week.
The move follows consultations with local
authorities and regulators held over the autumn and winter, and a report
from the Sustainable Development Commission on the use of
energy-from-waste.
SEPA believes
that the recovery of energy from appropriate wastes, given the inherent
value of waste which can be lost in landfill, is fully compatible with
zero waste.
John Ferguson, SEPA
Since the Scottish Nationalist Party
won a slim majority in the Scottish Parliament in May 2007, Scottish
ministers have provided little detail on the Party's manifesto aim to
move towards a "zero-waste society"
(see letsrecycle.com
story).
But a spokesman for the Scottish Government
confirmed on Friday (January 18) to letsrecycle.com: "Our future
policy direction on waste will be unveiled next week."
Energy-from-waste
A key question for local authorities
seeking to meet national landfill diversion targets will be whether the
"Zero Waste" intention of the SNP-led government will allow
them to use incineration to deal with waste left over after recycling has
taken place.
The original "Zero Waste" movement
has been seen as against the use of incineration.
However, commissioned by the Scottish
government to provide advice on the issue over the winter, the
Sustainable Development Commission Scotland has backed the use of
energy-from-waste technology - provided that key criteria in the use is
met.
In a report published last month, it said:
"The overall conclusion of our review is that energy from waste may
be, in the right circumstances, compatible with sustainable development
and a move towards a Zero Waste Society."
The Commission suggests energy-from-waste
systems should be evaluated on their ability to reduce carbon emissions
to meet government commitments to cut emissions by 80% by 2050.
It also states that plants should recover
energy to a minimum efficiency level of 60% and stresses that
consultation should take place with communities and stakeholder.
"Appropriate" wastes
Both the Convention of Scottish Local
Authorities (COSLA) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
have also backed the recovery of energy from "appropriate"
wastes.
John Ferguson, manager of SEPA's waste and
resource strategy unit said: "SEPA believes that the recovery of
energy from appropriate wastes, given the inherent value of waste which
can be lost in landfill, is fully compatible with zero waste, provided
there is a significant and targeted commitment to waste prevention and
recycling."
A COSLA spokesman said that while recycling
was its preferred means of reducing waste sent to landfill, it was not
enough to meet European targets for landfill diversion in 2013 and
2020.
The spokesman continued: "The SDC's
report recognises the role of energy-from-waste in a comprehensive
strategy aimed at diverting waste from landfill - one which COSLA looks
forward to working on alongside Scottish Government partners.
"Energy-from-waste is a safe, tried and
tested way to deal with waste that cannot be recycled, and is commonly
used across Europe. Energy from waste is not an alternative to recycling
- it is just one component of a sensible and practical waste
strategy."
Recycling
The Sustainable Development Commission
report also looked at wider issues when it comes to waste, and hailed the
bid to achieve Zero Waste as a means to shift policy towards
"resource efficiency".
It explained: "Government has struggled
to shift its attention from recycling to waste prevention. Without a
change of focus to prevention, many stakeholders will not have confidence
that energy-from-waste is being used as part of the solution, rather than
instead of wider action.
"The adoption of the framework of Zero
Waste should give government a clearer direction."
The Commission also urged the Scottish
Government to review recycling targets and push them above and beyond 55%
by 2020, stating this "would certainly be possible".
However, it was critical of some local
authorities which it claimed were failing to take seriously the need to
recycle and reduce waste.
Related links
It said: "While some local
authorities are making good progress on recycling, it is clear that
others are finding this difficult and do not see recycling or activities
further up the waste hierarchy as a core part of their waste management
duties."
The Commission also called for ministers to
integrate measures for tackling business waste into its new policy, as
well as a more joined-up approach to planning, economic development and
energy policies.
Gary
Liss
916-652-7850
Fax: 916-652-0485
www.garyliss.com
Gary Liss
916-652-7850
Fax: 916-652-0485
www.garyliss.com
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