Scotland’s Landfill Ban Sparks Waste Export Crisis

New regulations force a surge in waste shipments to England, raising environmental concerns.

Scotland faces a significant waste management challenge as a landfill ban looms, compelling the daily export of numerous truckloads of trash to England. This shift is a short-term solution with long-term implications, according to experts, posing logistical hurdles and environmental worries.

The Landfill Ban’s Impact

The Scottish government’s impending prohibition on burying “black bag” waste in landfills by December 31st is the catalyst. This initiative, which will restrict the disposal of most domestic and commercial waste, is a bid to reduce methane emissions.

“You’re looking at the equivalent of between 80 and 100 trucks minimum running seven days a week to take this material to a facility in England or abroad.”

—David Balmer, Waste Expert, ERS Remediation

The ban, initially slated for 2021, was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with a lack of sufficient incinerators, Scotland’s waste is finding a temporary home south of the border. In 2024, the UK generated 222.2 million tonnes of waste in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland (Gov.uk).

The Logistics and Concerns

The shift to incinerators is a major part of Scotland’s plan to stop landfilling. However, there’s concern about whether enough trucks and other vehicles exist to move the waste. The environmental cost of transporting waste, alongside a perceived lack of readiness, further complicates matters.

Waste management consultants, like Alasdair Meldrum of Albion Environmental, suggest that the infrastructure might be overwhelmed. The short-term rise in emissions from the vehicles transporting waste is a direct consequence, especially given the lack of a landfill policy in England.

The Bigger Picture

The Scottish government, which is committed to a “circular” economy, is promoting recycling. The plan to stop burying black bag waste aims to increase recycling rates and use more waste-to-energy incinerators. Despite such efforts, domestic recycling rates have only slightly improved over the last decade.

A Challenging Transition

While incinerators provide a means of dealing with waste, environmental groups worry about contracts that might discourage local authorities from boosting recycling efforts. Many see this waste management system as fundamentally flawed, with increasing incineration facilities being built despite community opposition.