Scottish Government

Requires the planning system to provide policies and sites for waste disposal.
Disposal or recovery of waste to avoid endangering human health and harm to environment (Regs.:
Schedule 4 (4)).
In general terms the Scottish Ministers consider that a number of planning authorities have failed to take account of the need for waste management infrastructure in their local plans.
In December 2005, the European Commission proposed a new thematic strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste. ²⁰ Those proposals are likely to give further emphasis to the need to provide the right infrastructure.

From July 2006 to July 2011 the Executive, working with the United Kingdom Government, is required to compile returns to the European Commission demonstrating the extent to which development plan policy on waste management is being updated.
The Scottish Ministers will continue to work with planning authorities to tackle areas where particular pressures may lie and will only be prepared to approve structure plans which take adequate account of the need for waste management infrastructure.
The Scottish Ministers will also require authorities to update plans to take full account of the need for infrastructure which supports sustainable waste management. A benchmark report is the publication Local Plans: Meeting Area Waste Plan Objectives (2005).²¹

By 2010, 2013 and 2020 biodegradable municipal waste disposed of to landfill will be reduced progressively to 75%, 50% and 35% of the total produced in 1995. ²²
SEPA and the Scottish Executive looking into landfill capacity/needs

As well as the reduction of waste and increased recycling and composting, targets will also lead to increased requirements for infrastructure to treat municipal waste. For non-municipal waste, the closure of many smaller landfills that no longer meet Pollution Prevention and Control ( PPC) Regulations, higher environmental standards at landfill sites generally and the UK Government's Landfill Tax will all lead to increased demand to reduce waste or to find alternative ways of dealing with waste in new installations.

New landfills must comply with the Regulations.

See paragraphs 40-41 for specific planning requirements.

Provides the context for the National Waste Plan.

Implementation driven by NWP and AWP requirements.

Aims to stop growth in municipal waste by 2010, - a tough challenge. Indicates that if growth should slow to 1.5% from 2010 to 2020, arisings of municipal solid waste could increase to 4.38 mt. by 2020.
Brings together eleven Area Waste Plans and forms the key to the implementation of the National Waste Strategy.

The National Waste Plan's targets and Area Waste Plan infrastructure requirements are not site specific and should be addressed by planning authorities in development plans.

Area Waste Plans (of which there are 11) articulate the National Waste Plan at area level.

Number and range of installations established in each AWP was subject to rigorous best practicable environmental option ( BPEO) assessment. ²³ Principle of those options is therefore established so for Strategic Environmental Assessment of development plans, it will be necessary for planning authorities to assess only locational impacts.
For non-municipal waste, the locational dimension of additional infrastructure will require wider picture to be recognised in policy development. Planning authorities to continue to provide an input to AWP implementation through Waste Strategy Area Groups.
Progress on implementation is recorded in Area Waste Plan annual reports, ²⁴ providing a record for planning authorities when preparing development plans. Annual reports record actions achieved deleted or restructured and may contain assessments of progress made in neighbouring structure or local plan areas. Against that background, the Scottish Ministers will, when considering development plans, development proposals notified to them, or appeals, support efforts to focus strongly on delivering AWP requirements consistent with the strategic waste fund.
The need to secure a better fit between development plans and Area Waste Plans is driven by the Waste Framework Directive obligations set out above.

The Scottish Planning Policy on waste management engages in particular with:
SPP 1 The Planning System,
SPP 2 Economic Development, and
SPP 17 Planning for Transport.

Refer to specific sections of this SPP.

Maps additional capacity requirements expected by 2013 for municipal waste; new materials reclamation facilities, energy from waste plants, composting plants and landfills.

For detailed information in drawing up development plans, planning authorities should refer to the NPF, this SPP and Area Waste Plans. Conclusion of outline cases for strategic waste fund bids ²⁵ may alter spatial distribution of installations shown in the NPF. NPF map 20 shows only a partial picture, as landfill capacity remaining at 2013 will still be required, together with any thermal treatment or new landfill capacity.

The SSDS was published in December 2005. The Executive recognises that economic growth should be delivered without or with fewer adverse environmental consequences such as waste.
Provides strategic framework for a number of the Executive's new and emerging strategies on climate change, transport, renewable energy, energy efficiency, green jobs and biodiversity.

The strategy includes actions to support environmental justice, moving away from over-dependence on landfill.

Highlights potential new business opportunities - including waste and recycling. Updated quarterly.

The green jobs strategy highlights the wealth of business and employment opportunities arising from the shift towards a sustainable future. Sustainable locations for waste management infrastructure will rely in part on accessibility to the labour force.