Learning more about what we waste in Scotland

The Scottish Government and WRAP Scotland are heading up a crucial new research programme to learn more about the kinds of waste being produced by Scottish households.

The programme is being run in partnership with eight local authorities:

East Dunbartonshire;
Edinburgh;
Glasgow;
Highland;
Orkney;
Moray;
Renfrewshire; and
South Ayrshire.

We are also working with Waste Aware Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scotland ReMaDe.

Why are we doing this?

Scotland produced 3.4 million tonnes of municipal waste in 2007/8. More information on what this waste consists of is needed by the Scottish Government and by local councils to help them meet national policy goals, international obligations to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and increase the amount recycled, and to satisfy demands of residents for better recycling services. Without knowing what the waste consists of, planning better services is extremely difficult.
Although some local councils routinely carry out this kind of research, this will be the first time that the information will be collected for the whole of Scotland, and it will help the Government and local authorities plan and provide better services to manage the waste we all generate.
What will we learn from this research
The research will provide, for the first time, a detailed picture of the composition of municipal waste produced in Scotland.
It will also provide detailed information to the eight local authorities that have been selected to take part:
- East Dunbartonshire;
- Edinburgh;
- Glasgow;
- Highland;
- Orkney;
- Moray;
- Renfrewshire; and
- South Ayrshire.
We will know quite accurately how much paper, card, glass and plastic is not currently recycled but is available for recycling, for example. This information will help provide better services and meet national and international obligations.
What sort of rubbish is being analysed?

All types of municipal waste will be included in the study from the ordinary rubbish that we all regularly put out for collection to the street sweepings that local councils pick up. It will include an analysis of the waste put out by up to 100 households selected at random from within each of the eight local authorities that have been chosen to take part.
Where is the research taking place?
Eight local council areas have been selected to take part in the study.
These have been assessed to be representative of all Scottish local authorities. The eight authorities are:
- East Dunbartonshire;
- Edinburgh;
- Glasgow;
- Highland;
- Orkney;
- Moray;
- Renfrewshire; and
- South Ayrshire.
Within these local authorities around 100 households will be randomly selected from three areas to have their waste analysed. These areas, when combined, are representative of Scotland as a whole.
How will it work?

The analysis work involves physically sorting and weighing waste. A professional waste analysis company – WastesWork – has been engaged for this purpose. They abide by a strict code of conduct in terms of assuring confidentiality, and all waste will be recycled or disposed in the normal way after it has been analysed. A van will be used to collect the waste rather than the normal council vehicle, but apart from that all features of waste collection – including the day – will be the same, although the collection may be a little earlier than normal.
Is it possible to opt-out of the research in advance?

Unfortunately not because the houses from which rubbish will be taken for analysis are selected at random on the day of waste collection.
But please be assured that if you are selected your confidentiality will be maintained at all time.
Nobody but the specially trained team of analysts will see your waste and it will be disposed or recycled in the normal way on the same day as it is collected. No individual household will be identified and every house is given a unique code so that the occupants cannot be identified.
Can I opt-out on the day?

Yes.
Just speak to the people collecting the waste on the day and they will arrange for the normal waste collection crew to take it away instead. They are used to questions from members of the public so please feel free to ask them anything about the research.
What do I do if I have any worries or want to know more?

Householders are advised to call their local police station or council if they have any concerns about suspicious activities as these call centres have been advised of where and when the research is taking place.
Alternatively, if you want to know more general information about the project, ring one of the numbers here.
Who is WastesWorks?

WastesWork is a professional waste analysis company based in Shropshire. They have been contracted to carry out this research in part due to their previous experience of working in Scotland. All their staff are fully trained and abide by a code of conduct in terms of respecting privacy.