28 March 2019

Scotland’s businesses are being encouraged to become world leaders in sustainability and embrace the economic opportunities that environmental changes can bring.

The VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards (VIBES) is celebrating its 20^th year and is calling on Scottish businesses to play their part in protecting our planet for future generations.

The 20^th anniversary awards were launched at the Scottish Parliament last night (27 March 2019) and organisers of the awards are urging Scottish businesses to mark the milestone by helping to tackle the environmental challenges facing Scotland and the rest of the world.

Businesses in Scotland have already seen an impact first hand on the risks associated with climate change, when food producers and whisky distillers were faced with water scarcity last summer. Recent studies have shown that we only have 12 years to avert a climate change disaster and that by 2050, 1.8m* people in West Central Scotland will be affected as a result of climate changes.

Commenting, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham, said: “We are all aware of the urgent environmental issues affecting our planet, and businesses across Scotland have a vital role to play in helping to safeguard it for future generations.

 “I look forward to the VIBES Awards celebrating those businesses that are leading on developing sustainable solutions and environmental practices while embracing a vibrant and innovative circular economy.”

Businesses are being encouraged to follow the example of Vegware and Paterson Arran Ltd. who have shown that environmental best practice can also bring economic benefits including financial savings, an engaged workforce, positive working culture and improved competitiveness as well as contributing towards a better economy and society as a whole.

Since its inception in 1999, the VIBES Scottish Business Awards, have recognised and rewarded more than 150 businesses that have championed sustainability by identifying ways to tackle the impact on the planet by reducing consumption on its resources. This has included everything from increasing recycling and facilitating active travel to reducing consumption of raw materials by adopting a more circular approach.

In Scotland alone, there’s an estimated £1billion** benefit for circular economy businesses in key cities and regions while on a global level at least 12 trillion dollars*** of market opportunities and 380million jobs could be created by 2030 if sustainable development goals were adopted in food and agriculture, cities, energy, health and wellbeing.

Bob Downes, chair of SEPA and head of the VIBES judging panel, added: “The scale of environmental challenges facing humanity is enormous and there is a real urgency to act in light of what science is showing us.

“Businesses have a responsibility and it’s empowering to see so many organisations no longer viewing climate adaptation and environmental performance as a burden and cost but as an economic opportunity – it is these businesses that will thrive.

“As the VIBES Awards have shown, many businesses in Scotland are doing great work and SEPA’s own figures reinforce this, with the environmental compliance of Scottish regulated businesses exceeding 90% for a third year running, however, we cannot rest on our laurels. We want to help Scottish businesses respond to these environmental challenges and reap the benefit and as we enter the 20^th year of VIBES, we hope to inspire others to instigate change.”

This year’s award categories include: Leadership Scotland, Innovating Scotland, Product Scotland, Service Scotland, Hydro Nation Scotland, Circular Scotland, Moving Scotland, Adapting Scotland, Engaging Scotland, Partnership Scotland and Small Business Scotland.

As part of this year’s anniversary celebrations, a special Best of VIBES Award will also be presented at the official ceremony and will recognise a past winner – from a shortlist of the 10 best entries – that can demonstrate their continuous improvement and contribution to Scotland’s sustainable development.

The 10 shortlisted businesses were announced at the launch event and include – Aqualution Systems Ltd, Castle Group Scotland, Chivas Brothers Ltd, CMS Window Systems, Emtelle UK Limited, Farne Salmon, Paterson Arran Ltd, The Bay Fish and Chips, The Deep Project – The Glenmorangie Company and Vegware. The winner will be selected via a public vote at the official awards ceremony in November.

The awards are committed to supporting businesses interested in sustainable development and will also be hosting a series of free regional information events with a selection of previous winners. The VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards roadshows will take place across Scotland with the first of these held at the James Hutton Institute, Dundee, on 16 April.

The 20^th anniversary awards ceremony will be held on 14 November at Doubletree by Hilton in Glasgow. Award sponsors to date include Adaptation Scotland, Mabbett & Associates Ltd, Scottish Government, ScottishPower, The Glenmorangie Company and headline sponsor, Chivas Brothers Pernod Ricard.

Businesses have until 5pm on 10 May 2019 to submit their free application. To obtain an application form please contact vibes@sepa.org.uk. Regional event spaces can be booked at vibesawards.eventbrite.com

For more informant on VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards, please visit www.vibes.org.uk

ENDS

* Climate Ready Clyde study 2018

** Zero Waste Scotland – https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/press-release/%C2%A31bn-potential-circular-economy-scotland%E2%80%99s-cities-and-regions-revealed-new-reports

*** Business and Sustainable Development Commission

Details of the regional events include:

• 16^th April 2019 – Dundee at The James Hutton Institute
• 17^th April 2019 – Duns at Aqualution Systems
• 2^nd May – Ayr at Albion EnvironmentalAdditional dates/locations still to be announced.

26 March 2019

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has published Official Statistics today (26 March 2019) which provide details of waste from households, construction and demolition, and commerce and industry.

• Scottish recycling rate for 2017 is 58.9%
• A decrease of 0.2 percentage points from 2016*
• Scottish organic waste recycled by composting or anaerobic digestion increased by 4.6% since 2016
• The quantity of biodegradable municipal waste being sent to landfill falls again with 1.09 million tonnes going to landfill in 2017
• Waste diverted from landfill through incineration with energy recovery has increased by 14.7% from 2016
• Scottish waste landfilled accounted for 32.6% of all waste managed, an increase of 0.1 percent from 2016

The total quantity of waste generated in 2017 increased by 5.5%. Whilst 142,195 more tonnes of waste was recycled in the 2017 calendar year, the statistics show that the national recycling rate was 58.9%, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from 2016. 

Scottish organic waste recycled by composting or anaerobic digestion continues to increase with almost 158,000 tonnes more being recycled than in 2011.

The quantity of biodegradable municipal waste being sent to landfill continues to fall, with 1.09 million tonnes going to landfill in 2017. This is 0.05 million tonnes less than 2016 and 1.07 million tonnes less than 2005.

In 2017 over 760,000 tonnes of waste was diverted from landfill through incineration with energy recovery or co-incineration. This is an increase of 14.7% from 2016 and follows the longer term trend with 182.6% more waste recovered since 2011.  The statistics also show that the quantity of Scotland’s waste being sent to landfill increased by 0.1 percentage points to 32.6% of all waste managed.

Terry A’Hearn, SEPA’s Chief Executive, said:

“The scale of the environmental challenge is enormous and we know that in Scotland we currently use the resources of three planets, but only have one.  The most successful countries in the 21st century will be resource efficient, circular economies, where what once was waste is valued as a resource.  As such, the latest figures give communities and businesses a fresh focus for the opportunity ahead.”

Data on waste are collected to monitor policy effectiveness, and to support policy development, particularly commitments in the Scottish Government’s Making Things Last – A Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland

The figures are accurate at the time of publication, however data may be updated if further revisions are necessary. Normally these revisions will be published concurrent with the next official release. 

Notes to editors 

*The 2016 recycling rate has been revised downwards from the originally published 61.0%.

20 March 2019

Drivers buying second hand tyres are being warned to check that they are legal and have passed the relevant safety checks.

So-called ‘part worn’ tyres are legal to sell in the UK – provided they meet a minimum tread depth of 2mm, have passed a range of safety checks, are clearly and permanently stamped and have paperwork verifying their origin and safety. Part worn tyres come into the UK from other countries including Germany, where there is minimum winter tread depth of 4mm.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Police Scotland, North Lanarkshire Council, South Lanarkshire Council, Renfrewshire Council and UK tyre safety charity, TyreSafe, are launching a campaign to crack down on potentially unsafe waste tyres being sold illegally as part worn tyres.

Kath McDowall, Unit Manager in SEPA’s Waste Crime Investigations Team, explained: “Selling waste tyres as part worn tyres isn’t just a crime, but putting an untested waste tyre on a vehicle can be dangerous.  SEPA is Scotland’s Environmental regulator and we are responsible for ensuring that waste is not dumped illegally or used inappropriately.  We are clear that compliance is not negotiable.”

Criminal activity in the tyre sector ranges from small scale fly tipping to large scale illegal dumping of waste tyres, with the clean-up costs for both falling to public bodies and landowners. Previous multi-agency raids have revealed a direct connection with some part worn proprietors and organised crime, which increased the probability of unlicensed disposal and environmental damage.

“We want people to be aware when they buy a part worn tyre that it should have gone through a rigorous safety inspection process and should have a stamp or paperwork verifying its origin,” McDowall says. “Rather than taking the dealers’ word for it, consumers need to do their own visual inspection. Your checks should include that the tyre doesn’t have nails, bumps or gashes in it, that it’s fully inflated and that the grooves of the tread are still clearly visible and at least 2mm deep.” 

A key element of the new sector plan for the tyre industry, SEPA wants to ensure that waste is being recycled and disposed of responsibly and not being reused unsuitably, or in a way that results in a danger to road users and pedestrians alike.

Sergeant Susan Rae, Police Scotland said: “Defective tyres can contribute to serious road crashes, potentially leading to a loss of life.  Emergency services witness first-hand the immediate devastation following a road crash and the impact it has on families who lose loved ones.  When you buy part worn tyres, you are responsible for ensuring they meet legal standards.  Our message is – do not compromise and make sure your tyres are legal.  Your safety and the safety of other road users depends on it.

“We are aware that this can also be an area where serious and organised crime gangs seek to operate.  They are only interested in making money and don’t care if the product they are selling, on this occasion, part worn tyres are legal or safe.  They don’t care if you or your family is at risk, all they want is to see their profits grow.”

TyreSafe has investigated 220 part worn dealers over the last five years in partnership with Trading Standards and found 94% were supplying tyres illegally. Equally concerning, 65% of the 441 tyres inspected were found to be unsafe to return to the road network.

TyreSafe chairman, Stuart Jacksion, said: “Each year in the UK, more than 1000 road casualties are caused by an incident where illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres are a contributory factor. To maximise road safety and prolong tyre life, a tyre’s pressure, tread depth and general condition should be checked regularly.

“When replacing tyres, fitting new tyres is the safest option. However, legislation does exist which permits the sale of part worn tyres, subject to them meeting a number of criteria. The sale of part worn tyres that do not meet these legal requirements is not only a criminal offence under the Consumer Protection Act, but also poses a serious safety risk to drivers, their passengers and other road users.”

Paul Bannister, North Lanarkshire Council’s Protective Services Manager, said: “The Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994 set out minimum safety standards for the supply of part-worn tyres, and buyers should be aware of these.  Under the Regulations, it is illegal to supply any part-worn tyre that is capable of being fitted to a motor vehicle or trailer unless certain conditions are met regarding specific markings and the general safe condition of the tyre.  The Trading Standards service will work with relevant partners to ensure that unsafe tyres are not being offered for supply within North Lanarkshire, and will take robust enforcement action those found to be placing consumers in danger.”

Councillor John Anderson, Chair of Community and Enterprise Resources, South Lanarkshire Council, said: “We can never compromise on safety, particularly in an area like tyre safety, where failure could have catastrophic results. Dangerous and non-compliant tyres are very commonly sold by part worn retailers to unsuspecting motorists, so it’s vital that we are proactive in tackling this issue.   Dealers are operating illegally if they don’t have a licence to sell part worn tyres, if they’re selling unsafe tyres or if they’re stockpiling waste tyres without a waste management licence.”

Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, said: “It is extremely important that we do not take risks when it comes to safety, as those extra few pounds in your pocket are not worth putting yourself, your passengers or other road users in danger.

“Don’t take the person’s word for it that the tyres you are purchasing are legal, make your own visual checks and ask for evidence of the safety inspections having taken place.

“If you’re still not sure, then seek the advice of the Trading Standards team in Renfrewshire who can provide support and guidance, as well as assisting you to report any concerns.”

The multi-agency campaign will involve site visits to tyre dealers across North and South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire to check for:

• Trading Standards breaches related to selling unsafe tyres
• Licence breaches related to second hand dealer and waste management licensing
• Other criminal activity

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR

Waste tyres

Scotland’s registered 2.9 million vehicles generate more than 4.2 million used tyres a year. As part of its sector plan for the tyre sector, SEPA is working with the industry to develop innovative ways to recycle and recover value from waste tyres. Examples include waste tyres being used as a feed stock for energy or as a fuel source for cement production. Crumbed rubber tyres also have a variety of uses including the creation of football pitches, horse arenas and the manufacture of noise/vibration attenuation mats.

Around 17% of the waste tyres generated annually are re-used as part worn or re-tread tyres. The disposal of whole or shredded tyres in landfills was banned in 2006.

Since then, the re-use, recycling and recovery of waste tyres have become common practice.

In 2017, there were 15 known stockpiles of illegally dumped tyres in Scotland, equating to over one million tyres that had been abandoned. This does not include small fly tipped piles or waste tyres stored at licensed facilities in contravention of licence conditions.

The Law on Part Worn Tyres

Under The Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994 (reg.7.), part of the Consumer Protection Act, it is an offence for anyone to sell part worn tyres that do not meet the following principal requirements:

• The structural integrity must not be compromised. It should be free of large cuts, any bulges or lumps both internally and externally. No plies or cords should be exposed.
• Tyres must have passed an inflation test prior to sale.
• The original grooves must still be clearly visible in their entirety and must be to a depth of at least 2mm across the full breadth of the tread, around its entire circumference.
• Part worn tyres which have not been retreaded must clearly show the relevant ‘E’ mark alongside which ‘PART-WORN’ must be permanently and legibly applied in letters at least 4mm high. These words cannot be hot branded or cut into the tyre.
• Part-worn tyres that have been retreaded must have one of the following:

• BS AU 144b, 144c, 144d, or 144e markings on the side wall (if first supplied as a retread on or before 31 December 2003 an ECE approval mark (if first supplied as a retread on or after 1 January 2004)
• A permanent mark to identify the original model and manufacturer, the word ‘RETREAD’ moulded onto or into its sidewall (in upper case letters at least 4mm high) and further markings in accordance with ECE rules. You may need to seek further advice as to which rules apply
• The indication ‘PART WORN’ must also appear next to the BS or ECE approval mark, or next to the word ‘RETREAD’
• For tyres marked BS AU 144e, a speed category symbol and load capacity marking should be present.

• A tyre has to comply with all these requirements whether or not it is fitted to a rim.

15 March 2019

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is calling on land managers and contractors to ensure they have an authorisation before undertaking river engineering works after a housing developer was served with a £600 penalty.

• SEPA is supporting Scottish land managers to do the right thing and avoid penalties.
• The call for farmers to talk to SEPA comes after the agency served a £600 penalty on Townfield Construction Limited after engineering work took place in the Avon Water without the necessary authorisation in place.
• SEPA is here to help and in addition to the ‘NetRegs’ online resource, local officers are on hand to support land managers.

On 10 Janaury 2019 SEPA served a fixed monetary penalty to Townfield Construction Limited after the Hamilton-based company undertook bank protection works without an authorisation from SEPA.

SEPA, led by Investigating Officer Mark Greenhalgh, carried out an investigation into the engineering work in the Avon Water.

Ian Buchanan, SEPA’s Chief Officer, Compliance and Beyond, said:

“Every day SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment. We are committed to supporting land managers and contractors to do the right thing and avoid penalties for environmental impacts.

“It is completely unacceptable to carry out river engineering works without an authorisation as this can put the water environment at risk. We also want responsible operators to feel confident that others are paying for a registration or licence and are complying with the conditions.

“In addition to the ‘NetRegs’ online resource, land managers can contact officers at our local Eurocentral office on 01698 839 000 before undertaking projects.”

Engineering works can damage habitat in rivers, lochs and wetlands, in turn affecting populations of invertebrates, plants, birds and mammals. Engineering works can also block the passage of migrating fish and damage spawning habitats during sensitive times. Some affected fish, such as salmon, are an important economic resource in many areas of Scotland. Engineering can also result in erosion of valuable adjacent land resources.

There is a wealth of advice and information available on SEPA’s website, including a range of good practice guides and at NetRegs. Details of Fixed Monetary Penalties are also published on SEPA’s website in line with the legislative requirement.

ENDS

15 March 2019

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is calling on farmers, land managers and contractors, to contact their local SEPA office before starting river engineering projects after a farming partnership was served with a £600 penalty.

• SEPA is supporting Scottish farmers to do the right thing and avoid penalties.
• The call for farmers to talk to SEPA comes after the agency served a £600 penalty on The Firm of Nisbet Mill after engineering work in the River Teviot breached environmental regulations.
• SEPA is here to help and in addition to supporting the ‘Farming & Water Scotland’ online and social media resources, local officers are on hand to support Scottish farmers.

On 11 January 2019 SEPA served a fixed monetary penalty to The Firm of Nisbet Mill after the Jedburgh-based operator breached regulations on sediment removal.

SEPA, led by local officer Kate Grimsditch, carried out an investigation into the engineering work in the River Teviot and confirmed that several conditions within The Firm of Nisbet Mill’s authorisation for sediment management had been breached. In this case, the partnership fully co-operated with SEPA’s investigation, were keen to make amends and undertook prompt remedial action to ensure impacts to fish were lessened.

SEPA also served the contractor involved with a warning letter as whilst they had confirmed that an authorisation was in place, they did not ask to see the authorisation and associated conditons.

Ian Buchanan, SEPA’s Chief Officer, Compliance and Beyond, said:

“Every day SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment. We are committed to supporting farmers to do the right thing and avoid penalties for environmental impacts.

“Whilst The Firm of Nisbet Mill had an authorisation to undertake work in the River Teviot, the conditions were not fully complied with. This shows how important it is for farmers, and all land managers and contractors, to ensure they not only have the correct authorisations in place but that they also follow all the rules associated with the authorisation.    

“In addition to the farming and water Scotland online and social media support, farmers and contractors can contact officers at our local Galashiels office on 01896 754797 before undertaking projects.”

Engineering works can damage habitat in rivers, lochs and wetlands, in turn affecting populations of invertebrates, plants, birds and mammals. Engineering works can also block the passage of migrating fish and damage spawning habitats during sensitive times. Some affected fish, such as salmon, are an important economic resource in many areas of Scotland. Engineering can also result in erosion of valuable adjacent land resources.

There is a wealth of advice and information available on SEPA’s website, including a range of good practice guides and at Farming & Water Scotland. Details of Fixed Monetary Penalties are also published on SEPA’s website in line with the legislative requirement.

ENDS