Zero Waste Scotland has launched an online platform to match local authorities with private operators to pool resources together in efforts to maintain key services during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Developed with Topolytics, a data analytics specialist, the Scotland Waste Capacity Platform will identify where there are gaps in local authorities’ resources and assist them in finding organisations that have the capacity to help.
Organisations, including private waste contractors, will submit their contact details and the services they are able to provide, such as waste collection staff or waste collection vehicles, to the platform, with councils then able to contact appropriate providers.
The project has come out of discussions between Zero Waste Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), the Scottish Environmental Services Association, Resource Management Association Scotland (RMAS), REA, and the Scottish Government.
Earlier this month, WasteSupport, a match-making service developed by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), was launched in England to link struggling authorities with private waste collection firms with spare capacity.
Commenting on the platform Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “We are looking at every possible way we can aid local authorities to maintain their key services. Discussions revealed there may be capacity elsewhere in the waste sector, and we have worked quickly to develop a system that could match additional resources with those in need.”
The platform follows on from the launch of the Scottish Government’s campaign launched last Thursday (23 April), directing householders and businesses to up-to-date information on how to manage their waste during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Local authorities and other waste organisations can access the Scotland Waste Capacity Platform on its dedicated site.
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.