Green scheme bottle firm to order up 200 gas guzzlers
A flagship Scottish Government environmentsaving recycling scheme will lead to 200 extra gas-guzzling vans on the country’s roads.
Waste management firm Biffa has the contract to collect empty drinks containers and has bought a fleet of 198 diesel and petrol vehicles to fulfil the work.
The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has been championed by the government and headed up by Greens minister Lorna Slater but she has been accused of losing control.
Critics claim the extra vehicles will outdo the environmental benefits the scheme promises to bring.
Ex-Scottish Government rural affairs minister Fergus Ewing said the scheme was going to see small firms go under and has urged ministers to pause it until issues can be resolved.
He said: “Many small Scottish companies that currently collect glass, tins and plastics locally and recycle them well are having their business in effect confiscated by Circularity Scotland’s decision to award all this work throughout Scotland to one multinational company.
“Biffa plans to put 200 extra lorries on our roads. It will create extra emissions from millions of additional lorry journeys and will be bad for the environment.
“This DRS will damage the environment and decimate hundreds of small businesses.
“It will make a rich multinational richer and poor people poorer through the price hikes DRS will cause for beverages.
“It will reduce glass recycling and boost use of plastic in place of glass to avoid the higher fees for glass.
“It must be paused and reviewed to work out how to improve recycling without damaging the environment or decimating small businesses.”
The Resource Managemen t Association Scot l and said that 198 DRS vehicles. The fleet will run on conventional fuels, although we are looking to introduce electric or HVO vehicles.
“We’re talking to several SME waste providers and logistic companies to use their own existing vehicles and infrastructure to help us deliver the collections contract.”
Circularity Scotland said: “We are working with recycling, waste and logistics providers to identify opportunities to work in partnership and utilise existing collection arrangements.
“We are in regular contact with waste management teams from al l local authorities about synergies with their recycling networks.”
The Scottish Government said it was the responsibility of Circularity Scotland to decide on contracts.