Waste
The main controlled waste streams are regulated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and are from the municipal, commercial and industrial sectors. Almost half the tonnage comes from construction and demolition.
SEPA and Planning play a significant role in the following areas of waste management.
Before any new waste management facilities can be built, they must first be subject to the planning and licensing system. Waste management development is expected to be a principal topic in all Strategic Development Plans (SDPs). Regulations require the planning authority to have regard to the national waste management plan in all Local Development Plans (LDPs). Together, SDPs and LDPs will provide a land use planning framework which steers new waste management infrastructure development to the most appropriate locations. SDPs and LDPs, along with Scottish Planning Policy, will provide the basis upon which decisions on planning applications for new development will then be taken. These new installations are typically industrial buildings - that's why sites allocated in local plans for industrial use are normally acceptable locations.
With the move away from landfill, new infrastructure of a different type and scale is needed to provide greater capacity, often in new locations. Places to deposit dwindling but substantial levels of residual waste in landfill still need to be found.
Recycling of municipal waste met the Government's 2008 target of 30% (33.5% was reached in 2008). Biodegradable waste can be composted and more facilities will be required to do this. SEPA's Thermal Treatment of Waste Guidelines are relevant in the determination of applications for energy from waste facilities.
Minerals waste is dealt with by separate minerals planning legislation.
Nuclear or non-nuclear industry radioactive waste also needs to be managed safely and is subject to complementary regulatory regimes.
- Agricultural waste is not controlled by the planning system
Policy Summary
Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 10 Planning for Waste Management provides key policy guidance.
The Scottish Government is currently pursuing a manifesto commitment to a zero waste Scotland. In planning terms, the National Planning Framework (NPF) identifies the spatial planning dimension of waste management, while SPP 10 Planning for Waste Management encourages a model policy focusing on industrial land for waste management installations. To ensure waste management requirements are met, all development plans must include the relevant policies.
SPP Update
As part of the commitment to proportionate and practical planning polices, the Scottish Government is rationalising the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) and National Planning Policy Guidance (NPPG) series into a single, shorter statement of national planning policy. The initial sections of the consolidated SPP were published in October 2008 as Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) covering the core principles, aspirations and expectations of the planning system. The remaining sections of the consolidated SPP, covering community engagement, sustainable development, outcomes and the subject policies, were published for consultation in April 2009. The consultation closed in June 2009. A further consultation on changes to the sustainable development, climate change, flooding and coastal planning sections and to policy on onshore oil and gas operations and high amenity business locations is running from September 30, 2009 until November 12, 2009. The final consolidated SPP will at published by the end of 2009. More information on the consolidation is available on the SPP home page.