Zero Waste Scotland has launched the second phase of its Resource Sector Commitment with the aim of improving health and safety standards.

Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for the Environment Richard Lochhead and Zero Waste Scotland’s Charlie Devine launched the second phase of its ‘kite mark for quality in the waste and resources sector’ when they visited Moray Council’s commercial and household recycling depot at Moycroft yesterday (10 June).

Developed by Zero Waste Scotland to support the delivery of the Scottish Government’s Zero Waste Plan, the voluntary commitment, which first launched in 2013, serves as a goal for resource management companies.

The first phase of the scheme commits companies to demonstrate a ‘dedication to customer service’. The second phase introduces a new focus on improving health and safety in the industry, and support for national efforts to increase recycling.

Moray Council commits to first phase

Zero Waste Scotland’s visit coincided with Moray council becoming the sixth local authority to sign up to the initial phase of the scheme.

As part of the commitment, the council will conduct regular customer satisfaction surveys and provide a dedicated trade waste officer to keep customers informed of service developments via its website and local business groups.

The council states that staff training in customer service skills has been prioritised and collection crews instructed to relay any trade waste issues back to council management.

Cabinet Secretary for the Environment Richard Lochhead congratulated the council for confirming their determination to “serve their trade customers well, on signing up to the customer service commitment”.

Charlie Devine, Head of Resource Management at Zero Waste Scotland, said he was “delighted to present Moray Council with their customer service certificate” and looked forward to “talking to all signatories about signing up to the health and safety standard”.

Second phase aims to promote ‘continuous improvement’

Devine added: “Phase one of Scotland’s Resource Sector Commitment has been a great success with a broad range of private and local authority waste services committing to deliver great customer service. With the launch of the second phase, focusing on health and safety, we’re expanding the opportunity for the sector to broadcast its credentials to customers even further.

“The aim of the commitment is to promote continuous improvement and enable businesses to reduce waste and be more resource efficient, as well as showcasing their credentials to customers, giving them confidence in the standards adhered to by the company. The commitment is for any organisation involved in providing waste or resource management services to commercial customers in Scotland.”

Lochhead said: “Over half of Scotland’s waste comes from businesses. In order to continue to increase recycling in Scotland, and support business in dealing responsibly with its waste, we need to drive up standards in the resource management. A commitment to excellence in health and safety is a particularly important step to take.”

Waste sector ‘one of the most dangerous’

Injuries and deaths in the waste sector are not uncommon, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has previously branded the industry as ‘one of the most dangerous’ sectors to work in after it found 10 workers and three members of the public suffered fatal injuries in the waste and recycling sector in 2012/13, compared with an average of six deaths in the past five years.

To reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured in the waste and recycling industry, HSE has published the ‘Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) blueprint 2012-15’, which outlines 24 ‘immediate action points’ that companies dealing with waste and recycling need to take to provide clearer training and safer workplaces.

For more about Zero Waste Scotland's Resource Commitment.