Guidance was yesterday (16 September) launched to help operators of materials recycling facilities (MRFs) comply with upcoming regulations introduced by the Scottish Government.

Developed jointly by Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the ‘Materials Recovery Facilities Testing and Reporting Guidance’ provides assistance for licence or permit holders of MRFs in Scotland.

Included in the guidance are sampling and testing regimes that are consistent with the requirements of the Code of Practice on Sampling and Reporting at MRFs, which will come into effect from October.

The Code of Practice has been introduced by the Scottish Government with the aim of improving the quality of materials entering the market It hopes that by doing this, investors will be more likely to support the expansion of Scotland’s reprocessing sector.

The code will apply to facilities that, over a 12-month period, receive, or are likely to receive, 1,000 tonnes or more of mixed dry recyclable materials (comprising of two or more materials) or separately collected dry recyclable waste for sorting.

As well as producing the guidance, Zero Waste Scotland has also provided grant funding for MRF operators to purchase the equipment needed to enable them to meet the requirements of the code.

New practices will help identify and resolve issues in process

Launching the guidance at the RWM event in Birmingham, Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of ZWS, said: “The MRF Code of Practice is all about driving the quality of material being generated through recycling, helping to identify where there might be issues, and helping to address them.

“This helps to ensure a market for recycled materials. While the Code of Practice is a change for local authorities, Zero Waste Scotland is providing support via both the new guidance we’re launching here at RWM, which outlines clearly the responsibilities of MRF operators under the legislation, and we have also provided financial support to enable the purchase of essential new equipment.

Gary Walker, Principal Policy Officer at SEPA, said: “By working with Zero Waste Scotland to produce this guidance, we have ensured that the new Code of Practice provides MRF operators with a clear understanding of what they can do to remain compliant. The guidance also compliments the data return forms, which have been developed and will be made available for operators in late September.

"This data will be crucial in helping SEPA understand the issues that MRF operators face with contamination and the role of the whole supply chain – from collection, treatment, and onwards to end markets – in managing the quality of recycled material.”

Authorities will reap ‘financial and recycling benefit’ of change

Some local authorities have already begun planning for the change in regulations.

Inverclyde Council, which sends waste to its own MRF, operated by Greenlight Environmental, received ZWS funding to purchase new equipment to comply with the regulations.

Michael McCormick, Environment Convener at Inverclyde Council, said: “We’re ready to comply with the new Code of Practice and really drive up the quality of recyclate generated in Inverclyde, and minimise contamination.

“This is really important for the council in order that we get the maximum financial and recycling benefit from the materials we collect.”

Read the Scottish ‘Materials Recovery Facilities Testing and Reporting Guidance’.