Scottish MSP and Scottish Government Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has visited shredding and paper recycling firm Shredall SDS Group’s new Scotland depot. She was given a tour of the site’s recycling.
The Scottish Government has laid out proposals for a ‘circular economy’, increasing recycling rates and reducing litter. It is being consulted on until December 19. In the name of ‘tackling our throwaway culture’; it suggests mandatory public reporting of waste, strengthening household recycling and environmental charging on single-use items proven to be harmful to the environment. A potential charge on single-use items such as disposable beverage cups is among recommendations.
Shredall SDS Group’s new 17,000 sq ft depot will serve as a regional hub for its shredding, recycling, and scanning services; including a paper cup recycling service. The company points out that more than 2.5 billion coffee cups go to landfill in the UK each year. On that point, the consultation speaks of increasing the minimum single-use carrier bag charge from 5p to 10p; and a charge for single-use disposable beverage cups.
Roseanna Cunningham said: “A thriving circular economy presents enormous economic and industrial opportunities for Scotland, as well as significant environmental benefits. It can improve productivity and open up new markets while providing employment opportunities and lower cost options to access the goods we need.
“Single-use cups are a good example of the fact that no single measure will be effective on its own to reduce waste. Whether it is making the decision to switch from disposable to reusable cups or making sure cups are dealt with more effectively at the end of their life, we all need to do more to support a more circular economy and reduce our environmental impact.
“We all – be it government, business, industry and individuals – have a role to play in protecting our resources and materials and I welcome Shredall’s continued investment and commitment to driving recycling in Scotland.”
Nik Williams, Managing Director at Shredall SDS Group, said: “Both myself and Brian McCulloch, Shredall Ltd Scotland General Manager, had the pleasure of showing Ms Cunningham around the site and discuss the increasing importance of commercial recycling in Scotland. Our investment in new machinery reflects our commitment to helping businesses transition to a circular economy, and it was good to see the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform take an interest in a business like ours.”
For that Scottish Government consultation: https://consult.gov.scot/environment-forestry/circular-economy-proposals-for-legislation/. As for enforcement, by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the consultation document says it’s committed to ensuring that SEPA has the necessary powers to enforce environmental law properly. Proposed is an enabling power to allow Scottish Govnerment to create a fixed penalty regime to fine those littering from vehicles; powers available to the enforcement authorities in England and Wales.
