Starting 31 December, Scotland will ban biodegradable municipal waste—like black bag rubbish, food, textiles, and paper—from going to landfill. But with not enough incinerators ready, experts
say up to 100 truckloads of waste per day may need to be sent to England.
The move, delayed from its original 2021 target due to COVID and readiness concerns, aims to reduce methane emissions from landfills. However, with a projected shortfall of 600,000 tonnes in waste-handling capacity, councils are scrambling to secure deals with English operators.
The ban is part of Scotland’s effort to boost recycling and shift to energy-from-waste facilities, which burn waste to generate power. Still, critics warn that transporting waste increases emissions and ties councils to incineration contracts, potentially hindering recycling progress.
Scotland has eight operational incinerators, with only a few more allowed due to concerns of overcapacity. Recycling rates have also stagnated—rising just 2% over a decade to 43.5%.
Environmental groups argue that the system is flawed and worry the focus on incineration undermines long-term sustainability. The government insists waste export is only a short-term fix and promises continued work with councils to manage the transition. Photo by Brian Forbes, Wikimedia commons.