The East Perthshire public are to be consulted over a new Perth and Kinross Waste Management Plan for the next 15 years.
And one of the five consultation meetings is to be held in Blairgowrie Town Hall, Brown Street, from 4-8pm on Friday, January 22.
Council officers will be present to provide information on the ambitious proposals contained in the 70-page draft plan, which covers the period 2010-2025.
The document has been produced in response to the Scottish Government’s vision for a ‘Zero Waste Scotland.’
A council spokesperson said yesterday:
“The plan aims to provide clear strategic direction for municipal waste management in Perth and Kinross.”
The plan maps out the way forward for the council to:
1. Achieve national recycling and composting rates at local level.
2. Achieve landfill allowance scheme targets (if re-instated).
3. Implement initiaves to control waste arisings and waste growth.
4. Look at potential partnership agreements.
5. Proceed with the procurement for residual waste treatment.
6. Determine the future financial implications approach for waste management in Perth and Kinross.
On recycling and composting, the Scottish Government’s ambitious targets are to achieve a 50 per cent. rate by 2013, increasing to 60 per cent. by 2020 and then 70 per cent. by 2025.
The actual recycling and composting rate for Perth and Kinross in 2008/09 was 38 per cent.
The Scottish Government also want to see no more than five percent of municipal waste being landfilled by 2025.
In 2008/09, the local figure was more than 12 times that – 61 percent.
The Government have also set a target of no more than 25 percent of municipal waste going to energy from waste facilities by 2025. In 2008/09, the Perth and Kinross figure was one percent.
The draft waste management plan states:
“To achieve these targets, there will need to be a significant change to the way waste is managed in Perth and Kinross – and waste will need to be viewed far more as a resource.
“The council faces the challenge of delivering this change within the current legislative framework, within allocated budgets, whilst at the same time continuing to provide high quality services to local residents.”
A copy of the Draft Waste Management Plan and information on how to respond is available on the council’s website at
www.pkc.gov.uk/wasteplan
The council has also prepared an environmental report in conjunction with the Draft Waste Management Plan, in line with national legislation.
The report identifies and evaluates the significant environmental effects that are likely to result from the implementation of the waste management plan.
A copy of the report can also be downloaded from the council’s website at
www.pkc.gov.uk/wasteplan
For further information on the plan and report, please visit the council website, or just e-mail
wasteplan@pkc.gov.uk
