Catering Scotland

New guidance ahead of legislation to improve recycling quality at Scotland’s material recovery facilities (MRFs) is being launched today  at the RWM event in Birmingham.

Developed jointly by Zero Waste Scotland 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, with the introduction of sampling and testing regimes which are consistent with the requirements of the Code of Practice.

The Scottish Government has introduced the new Code of Practice with the aim of improving the quality of materials entering the market, and have made available grant funding for MRF operators to purchase the equipment needed to enable them to meet the requirements of the code.

The Code applies to facilities which receive, or are likely to receive, 1,000 tonnes or more of mixed dry recyclable materials or separately collected dry recyclable waste for sorting over a 12-month period.

Launching the guide at the RWM event, Iain Gulland, Zero Waste Scotland’s chief executive, said:

‘The MRF Code of Practice is all about driving the quality of material being generated through recycling, helping to identify and address issues, and in doing so ensuring there is a market for recycled materials.’

Gary Walker, Principal Policy Officer at SEPA, added: ‘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.’

www.zerowastescotland.org.uk