Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
Landfilling materials, which are no longer fit for purpose or which we no longer want, means those materials are effectively lost from our society. We are not getting maximum value from them.
We need to rethink our approach to how goods are supplied, how they are used and what happens at the end of a product’s life. We need to keep materials, components and products in use (in a high value state) for as long as possible.
This way of thinking applies to how we manage our food wastes and other bio-based resources and wastes. This includes anaerobic digestion, composting or bio-refining. These enable the recirculation of nutrients, whilst avoiding harmful greenhouse gases. Some of these technologies can be used to produce energy. To further support the transition to a circular economy we need to increase the proportion of bio-based wastes used for the production of high value materials and chemicals.
VIDEO - Celtic Renewables: Biobutane
Find the highest value market for your unwanted materials, components and products and prioritise reuse, then repair, then remanufacturing, before recycling:
Reuse products and find new users for your unwanted items – by donating items and online exchanges
Segregate your materials to get best value
Discuss options with your waste management contractor
Find reuse and recycle services in your area. See, for example:
Explore innovative uses for your waste streams
In Northern Ireland refer to GOV.UK for information on quality protocols for materials that are no longer waste.
In Scotland, to establish if a material or product is waste or is no longer considered waste, refer to SEPA’s regulatory guidance documents about ‘Is it waste’ and End-of-waste criteria for a number of materials.
Also, see the pages in this guideline about Reuse, Repair, Remanufacturing and Recycling.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation was established in 2010 with the aim of accelerating the transition to a Circular Economy. Their system diagram below illustrates the continuous flow of technical and biological materials through the ‘value circle’:
Managing your waste for a circular economy - recycling and beyond
Designing your product, service or business model for a circular economy
SEPA Special Waste Consignment Notes – updated position, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is now accepting special waste consignment notes (SWCNs) by email only.
DAERA Waste Policy Tracker, The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has published a Waste policy tracker to stay informed of waste policy developments.
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