Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 15 September 2011
15 Sep 2011 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Waste Management
I know that the Labour Party does not oppose energy from waste per se, and I give it credit for that. I know that because when Aberdeen City Council—I declare my interest as a member of that council—discussed and decided on our waste strategy, which includes options for energy from waste, the strategy received the unanimous backing of all political parties that are represented on the council, which include Labour. Labour does not oppose the general principle of energy from waste.
I will broaden the focus of the debate, but perhaps narrow it in terms of geography. We have spoken about the waste hierarchy, but we are in danger of being caught between the two fixed positions of landfill and incineration. However, there are other ways in which to deal with waste. There are good examples of companies in my region that deal with waste creatively and add value to it. I know that the minister is keen on the approach of viewing waste as a resource. One of those companies is Keenan Recycling of Turriff, which for several years has been recycling food and garden waste into compost material. The company can process up to 100,000 tonnes every year and now operates the largest vertical composting unit in Europe. The recycled organics are used in products that benefit the end users, communities and the environment. The main products are compost, garden bark and, as I found out only recently, a specialist product for indoor and outdoor equestrian areas called Equishred.
There are also examples of small organisations in the north-east, such as the Pitscurry project, which is run by the Pitcaple Environmental Project, and Wood RecyclAbility at Udny. Both are small local enterprises with community benefits and which provide meaningful employment for adults with learning disabilities and minor physical disabilities. They involve taking delivery of uncontaminated wood pallets and turning them into garden furniture and other items. Michael McMahon spoke about the consumer demand for newness but, particularly in times of economic difficulties, there is a focus on, and genuine interest in, products that have been developed in a way that involves reuse. Those enterprises provide not just environmental value, but social value. We must consider that in thinking about how to deal with the waste hierarchy.
Another project that I want to highlight is The Box Room in Banchory, which is a community project that takes old furniture and either sells it on or passes it to good causes. I mention it because it launched the magpie project, which it runs in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council and which is a scheme that aims to divert waste from landfill. It involves intercepting reusable household objects and furniture that are brought to the household waste and recycling centre in Aberdeenshire and then selling them or passing them on to local good causes. All too often, we do not see that part of the process. We see things going to the waste recycling centre and assume automatically that they will either go to landfill or somewhere else, but there are often small social enterprises that can deal with them. If such enterprises do not exist in other areas, we need to consider how to encourage local authorities or entrepreneurs to consider taking that approach to diverting waste. The magpie project was so successful that it had to relocate to new premises after only seven weeks, such was the demand.
I do not dispute for one second that local concerns exist on waste incineration. We have heard them in the north-east, most recently in Peterhead, where an application caused a great deal of protest and was rejected by the local authority. However, we must be careful that we do not get into a situation in which we automatically rule out an approach to waste management that is based on particular examples. We have to be cautious in that regard. I urge members to consider the issue on a broad basis. There will always be local concerns, but we must have an eye on the bigger picture.
09:48
I will broaden the focus of the debate, but perhaps narrow it in terms of geography. We have spoken about the waste hierarchy, but we are in danger of being caught between the two fixed positions of landfill and incineration. However, there are other ways in which to deal with waste. There are good examples of companies in my region that deal with waste creatively and add value to it. I know that the minister is keen on the approach of viewing waste as a resource. One of those companies is Keenan Recycling of Turriff, which for several years has been recycling food and garden waste into compost material. The company can process up to 100,000 tonnes every year and now operates the largest vertical composting unit in Europe. The recycled organics are used in products that benefit the end users, communities and the environment. The main products are compost, garden bark and, as I found out only recently, a specialist product for indoor and outdoor equestrian areas called Equishred.
There are also examples of small organisations in the north-east, such as the Pitscurry project, which is run by the Pitcaple Environmental Project, and Wood RecyclAbility at Udny. Both are small local enterprises with community benefits and which provide meaningful employment for adults with learning disabilities and minor physical disabilities. They involve taking delivery of uncontaminated wood pallets and turning them into garden furniture and other items. Michael McMahon spoke about the consumer demand for newness but, particularly in times of economic difficulties, there is a focus on, and genuine interest in, products that have been developed in a way that involves reuse. Those enterprises provide not just environmental value, but social value. We must consider that in thinking about how to deal with the waste hierarchy.
Another project that I want to highlight is The Box Room in Banchory, which is a community project that takes old furniture and either sells it on or passes it to good causes. I mention it because it launched the magpie project, which it runs in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council and which is a scheme that aims to divert waste from landfill. It involves intercepting reusable household objects and furniture that are brought to the household waste and recycling centre in Aberdeenshire and then selling them or passing them on to local good causes. All too often, we do not see that part of the process. We see things going to the waste recycling centre and assume automatically that they will either go to landfill or somewhere else, but there are often small social enterprises that can deal with them. If such enterprises do not exist in other areas, we need to consider how to encourage local authorities or entrepreneurs to consider taking that approach to diverting waste. The magpie project was so successful that it had to relocate to new premises after only seven weeks, such was the demand.
I do not dispute for one second that local concerns exist on waste incineration. We have heard them in the north-east, most recently in Peterhead, where an application caused a great deal of protest and was rejected by the local authority. However, we must be careful that we do not get into a situation in which we automatically rule out an approach to waste management that is based on particular examples. We have to be cautious in that regard. I urge members to consider the issue on a broad basis. There will always be local concerns, but we must have an eye on the bigger picture.
09:48
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business is a debate on motion S4M-00853, in the name of Michael McMahon, on waste management. In the light of the possibilit...
Michael McMahon (Uddingston and Bellshill) (Lab)
Lab
Although, as all colleagues did, I came into politics to make life better for those whom I represent, I confess that—unlike for a good number of fellow membe...
Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Perhaps Michael McMahon did not read the full question and answer exchange with Mr Mather when he was minister. We were talking about a particular plant in m...
Michael McMahon
Lab
A plant of 1 million tonnes might be of a different scale from the ones that we are talking about, but people on the Government side of the chamber campaigne...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Perhaps the member will acknowledge another example in my constituency, where an application for an incinerator handling 300,000 tonnes a year—well over twic...
Michael McMahon
Lab
I agree, because that is the level at which Jim Mather said incinerators would be unacceptable. However, they are being approved by this Government against t...
The Minister for Local Government and Planning (Aileen Campbell)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Michael McMahon
Lab
Right on cue.
Aileen Campbell
SNP
Does the member not recognise the role of local authorities in that case? That decision was rightly up to South Lanarkshire Council and it made its decision.
Michael McMahon
Lab
The minister has clearly not been listening and makes the point for me. The minister passes the buck to local authorities for issues that ultimately rest wit...
Aileen Campbell
SNP
It is part of the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 that local decisions would be made locally.
Michael McMahon
Lab
The minister makes the point for me. We have asked her to review the guidance and the planning laws. She refuses to do that but continually campaigns and cla...
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to debate this important topic and thank Michael McMahon and his colleagues for giving Parliament this opportunity.I listened caref...
Michael McMahon
Lab
I make it clear that we are not asking for the scrapping of planning system. I said that I concur with Christina McKelvie in asking for a review to ensure th...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
The debate addresses some of the challenges that our society faces on the road to zero waste Scotland—a destination that we all, I am pleased to say, appear ...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the minister for taking an intervention. I do not think that anyone disputes the fact that there will be residual waste. The problem is that faciliti...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I have an element of sympathy with the member’s comments. That is why more infrastructure needs to be built in Scotland.I am acutely aware of the strong emot...
Stewart Maxwell
SNP
On a very specific point, my understanding is that the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 provides that there should be a fit and proper person test for anybod...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
The member raises an interesting point. Of course, the Electricity Act 1989 is reserved to the United Kingdom Government, although elements of it are devolve...
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way?
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I apologise, but I have taken three interventions already.I have no desire to see such levels of incineration in Scotland. That is why we have set some of th...
Elaine Smith
Lab
Will the member give way?
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I am sorry, I have taken three interventions already. I will take the member’s intervention in my closing speech.At each stage of the planning process, wheth...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
This is a timely debate, for there is little doubt that waste management is contentious, complicated and emotive—almost always because communities do not con...
Aileen Campbell
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Margaret Mitchell
Con
I am in my last seconds.Finally, the Scottish Government must consider the reform of subsidies for renewable energy operators in an effort to discourage spec...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We move to the open debate. I remind members that they have a very tight four minutes.09:39
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab)
Lab
The debate is vital, because how we deal with our waste will have consequences for our planet for generations to come. People recognise that. Masses of peopl...
Mark McDonald (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I know that the Labour Party does not oppose energy from waste per se, and I give it credit for that. I know that because when Aberdeen City Council—I declar...
Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The Scottish Government’s zero waste plan was intended to lead to waste disposal being regulated in“a better, more consistent way”,and to help clarify the ex...