SNP under fire for pressing ahead with 'farcical and fake' landfill ban
Waste can still be dumped at landfill if an exemption is obtained.
SNP ministers have been criticised for pressing ahead with a "farcical and fake” ban on waste being sent to landfill in Scotland.
Regulations for the ban on the landfilling of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) pledged to do so by January 1, 2026 with ministers pledging to roll out the move from today.
But opponents have criticised the SNP government insisting the ban will still come into force despite environmental body, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa), publishing guidance allowing anyone who manages waste to apply for exemptions to the ban for the next two years.
Scottish Lib Dems climate emergency spokesperson, Liam McArthur, said: “The SNP’s ban on landfill is fake and farcical. We have a ban that exists in name only.
“The SNP have had 13 years to deliver their own policy. This mess neatly sums up this government’s approach across the board. Make big promises, spend years botching the delivery before being forced into a last minute climbdown.”
He added: “For years, the SNP and Greens had planned to circumvent the landfill ban by sending 100 lorryloads of rubbish a day to England. Now ministers have come up with a new system of red tape to dodge their own ban, whereby waste still goes to landfill in Scotland after a rubberstamping exercise.
“Ministers should come clean about their ban being just a PR exercise that will make zero difference to greenhouse gas emissions.”
A Sepa spokesperson said: “Scotland has made significant progress in reducing the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfill. New treatment capacity and services are being developed, and the direction of travel remains clear.
“Following discussions with the Scottish Government, industry trade bodies and other stakeholders, Sepa decided that a pragmatic, time-limited delay to the enforcement of the ban in certain circumstances is the most responsible approach.
“In reaching this decision, we carefully considered all available evidence to ensure that residual waste is managed appropriately, in line with government policy and with the lowest possible carbon impact.
“This approach supports the long-term delivery of the ban in a responsible way that still supports Scotland’s climate ambitions.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste is now in force across Scotland.
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“Operators are required to move away from landfill where compliant alternatives are available. “Regulatory flexibility is only applied by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency where there is a genuine, short-term capacity constraint, and it is for the agency to determine and apply regulatory decisions within its statutory remit.
“Banning landfilling biodegradable municipal waste remains a vital step in Scotland’s journey to net zero and will cut harmful emissions and deliver on our climate commitments.”
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