\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI see no benefit in making this a compulsory kerbside collection as it will take away from local charities and increase workload for local authorities who are under increasing demands to do more work while budgets are frozen or cut.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gray also said he did not want to see the exemption on rural food waste lifted.<\/p>\n
He highlighted how food waste is sent to the Energy Recovery Plant incinerator in Lerwick, with waste heat being used for the Lerwick district heating system.<\/p>\n
Gray said this was a \u201cgood solution\u201d and added that \u201cone size does not fit all\u201d.<\/p>\n
He also said that introducing textile and food waste collection would \u201cvery much increase the burden and costs on the local authority\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cLocal councils are under pressure to do more work with a reduced budget with no sign of that getting any easier,\u201d Gray continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo add the additional burden of a compulsory food and textile waste collection would put unnecessary strain on the councils that are currently exempt.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo ship these waste streams off island has an impact on carbon emissions as well as financial implications for island authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The consultation response also revealed that it costs a minimum of \u00a31,200 for the SIC to send one trailer on the NorthLink freight boat to the mainland.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile a representative from the Yell cancer charity shop said in its consultation response that they believed the current set-up for textiles is sufficient.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf textiles were collected at the kerbside, it would discourage people from taking their quality textiles to charity shops,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCharity shops are part of the circular economy, assist those with a social conscience to reuse\/repurpose and provide funds to charities to continue their aims.\u201d<\/p>\n
They did, however, say that if there was \u201csome way of ensuring that only unsaleable items were collected, that may be an option\u201d.<\/p>\n
In the foreword of the consultation documents, the Scottish Government said that \u201cchanges to our waste and recycling services are essential to ensure Scotland maximises the value from its waste\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition to the societal benefits of increased recycling and improved household services, a more circular economy presents significant economic opportunities, including job creation, cost savings, and the development of new markets for recycled materials,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n
Against the climate backdrop, the government said \u201cwe must accelerate progress to increase the recycling rate in Scotland\u201d.<\/p>\n
Zero Waste Scotland date indicates that from 2021 to 2023, households produced 440 thousand tonnes of food waste, approximately 174.5kg per household per year.<\/p>\n
It is estimated that around 30 per cent was placed in residual waste bins and therefore not recycled.<\/p>\n
Zero Waste Scotland also said textile waste made up four per cent of waste in 2021 \u201cbut 32 per cent of the carbon impacts\u201d.<\/p>\n
The government added that the \u201ckey rationale for the separate collection of textiles and textile strategy is to increase reuse, repair and recycling of textiles, alongside reducing textiles impact on the environment\u201d.<\/p>\n
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