Green, Clean Scotland!
Scotland Waste Regulations have announced their Zero Waste Scotland policies and when they say zero they certainly mean that! All business, including those in the waste industry must comply with the regulations as 100% of recyclable materials must be recycled and separated from non-recyclable waste. This is a large step up in the environmental world and some businesses aren’t particularly happy.
Shaun Weston recently posted an article in Foodbev stating shocking statistics that:
- 32% of Scottish businesses do not have future recycling targets in place
- 32% do not include recycling cans in their system
- 28% of local authorities have still yet to set targets
- 91% of business already have facilities for recycling drink cans in place
The fact simply is businesses are not putting the necessary actions into place to get the recycling to a maximum level. But Scotland wants by January 2014 the regulations in full swing and being followed with by everyone. Therefore some big changes are going have to be made in many businesses to reach the level that the Scottish Government are looking for.
But is the recession too much for businesses to take on these regulations? In May, a Scottish recycling facility had to close due to the lack of work and money to stay open. Avondale Advanced Waste Treatment is due to close despite the regulations being put in place. The money to run the recycling facility is too much in comparison with the work load they were doing. Over 70 members of staff are losing their jobs as a result and it is evidential that the recycling industrial side of things is in decline due to the lack of recycling by many people and businesses.
Despite the lack of businesses setting their targets high for recycling in the coming years it is admirable that companies such as Buchannan Skip Hire have taken a green attitude to the world of waste in Scotland. They evidently have taken a ‘hands on’ approach to the recycling laws and regulations, especially as being in the waste industry. If they can do it, working with a large amount of waste, there simply is no excuse for the smaller business.
Simple things can be done to improve your recycling in your business. Buy in bins that are clearly marked, ‘recyclable materials’ and ‘all other waste’. Express to your employer and employees the importance of the recycling matter and in the grand scale of things, you are making your country, Scotland a better place.
