Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
The European Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC requires member states to take steps to develop "recycling societies". This will involve a shift in the way waste is viewed; from being a problem to being a valued resource. This resource centred approach can be summarised in the five steps of the waste hierarchy.
In addition to the requirements covered in the other sections of this guideline, businesses in Scotland must:
You may be able to present co-mingled materials so long as the collection, and then the management of the materials, is designed to produce high quality recycling.
Scottish Government: Guidance on applying the waste hierarchy (PDF, 753KB)
A food business is any business that carries out activities related to the processing, distribution, preparation or sale of food. Examples include:
If you are a food business you must be prepared to present food waste for separate collection.
Your food businesses are exempt from the regulations only if:
You can find out if your business is located in a rural area by searching the list of postcodes published by the Scottish Government.
Scottish Government: Defining rural and non-rural areas to support zero waste policies
The use of macerators to dispose of food waste in the sewer system is now banned, except for domestic premises and food producers in rural areas.
Regulations introducing these new duties: the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2011, the Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2011 and the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012.
NetRegs: Duty of Care for waste (Scotland) leaflet (PDF - 997KB)
SEPA and Resource Efficient Scotland: Segregating materials for recycling leaflet
Scottish Government: Duty of care - a code of practice
SEPA: What is your Duty of Care?
SEPA: Encourage your customers to recycle
SEPA Guidance: Food waste management in Scotland
What is the duty of care for waste?
New waste duties for businesses in Northern Ireland
New waste duties for businesses in Scotland
Waste Transfer Notes and how to complete them
European Waste Catalogue (EWC) - waste codes
Controls on specific types of waste
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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