Renewable energy and waste management company Viridor has called for a new integrated system of Scottish Resource Networks that is ‘fit for purpose’ to support national economic growth.

The company claims the networks are ‘a recycling opportunity not to be missed’ and would deliver a ‘fresh start’ for Scotland’s resources policy.

It made a similar call in January this year to form Resource Networks in England, which it believes will create jobs, reduce unemployment and ‘go beyond the boundaries of local authorities.’ The move, it says, would also help to create economies of scale, join up value chains and help plan for and meet regional and social resource infrastructure requirements.

Safeguarding Scotland’s Resources

According to Viridor, the Scottish waste management infrastructure is out of date and based on “arbitrary political and geographical local authority boundaries” which have resulted in a “disaggregated collection, recycling and recovery infrastructure with varying performance.”

It also believes that fresh thinking is required in order to transform the manufacturing and low-carbon economies and to attract investors.

The company claims that resource scarcity is a major risk factor for international investors, a fact that is covered in the ‘Safeguarding Scotland’s Resources’ strategy of the Scottish Government, outlined in 2013, which has led to a better understanding of the economic and environmental value of Scottish resources.

The document was developed to act as a “blueprint for a more resource efficient and circular economy” and recognises that waste streams should be thought of as financial assets and resources.

The aim of the strategy is to reduce waste arisings in Scotland to 7 per cent of 2011 levels by 2017 and to 15 per cent by 2025.

A comment on the Viridor blog, posted by Martin Grey, the company’s Head of Public Affairs, stated: “Scotland has an opportunity to recognise the economic value of resources, linking collections and investment in green infrastructure with the needs of the next generation of Scottish business in a circular economy.”

Viridor’s suggestions

In order to progress in the formation of these new Resource Networks, Viridor has called for the Scottish Government to establish an economy-wide model, which would set common waste collection standards.

Changes could be driven through the formation of a Scottish Resource Council (a Scottish OfRes) to “strengthen the Government’s ability to respond strategically to resource supply threats”.

Research into the viability of new collection authorities could also be funded through Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) and the Scottish Cities Alliance, according to Virdor.

A Scottish Resource Networks Innovation Fund was also suggested, which could finance councils and collection authorities in order to realise the targets of the ‘Household Recycling Charter’.

The charter, launched in December 2015, is a voluntary framework local authorities can choose to sign up to which is focused on the creation of a more consistent recycling service. It also includes on using waste and recycling services to maximise resource capture from waste streams and improve their quality.