News archive - April 2008

Week Ending 25th April

Glasgow Tackles 'Away From Home Waste'
The City of Glasgow is to launch the UK's first recycling scheme to deal with the waste produced by city centre shoppers, workers and tourists. Giant blue and silver bins are to be placed at strategic points around the centre of Glasgow to take unwanted newspapers, drink cans and plastic bottles. Ten sites have been agreed and a further five locations are awaiting approval. At the moment, no other city centre in Britain offers mixed recycling to the general public.

Approved locations include Buchanan Street Bus Station, the entrance to Glasgow Caledonian University and Cadogen Street. 'Glasgow Recycles' is a joint initiative innvolving the public and private sectors. The city council has gone into partnership Waste Aware Scotland, recycling solutions firm Valvak, bottled water brand Volvic and social enterprise specialist the Wise Group.

Lewis Wave Power Scheme

The possibility of a wave power station on the Isle of Lewis has moved a step nearer with the submission of a planning application by npower renewables. The Siadar Wave Energy Project (SWEP) is a collaboration between npower renewables and Inverness based technology company Wavegen. The SWEP would be the first project to operate under the Scottish Government's Marine Supply Obligation (MSO), put in
place to promote the development of first generation marine energy power stations.

The scheme would harness power from the Atlantic waves in Siadar Bay to generate up to 4 megawatts of electricity. In an average year it could supply the electricity needs of around 1,500 homes on Lewis and Harris.

The scheme, which could begin construction as early as 2009, involves building a new breakwater which would house the Wavegen turbines. As well as providing renewable electricity, the SWEP could also provide shelter and facilitate the development of fair weather harbour facilities for small commercial and leisure craft.

Hospital Recycles Water

St John's Hospital in West Lothian has been recognised for its commitment to environmental awareness; receiving an international ISO award for its continued work on controlling its impact on the environment, reducing harmful emissions and waste and increasing recycling. This is added to the Hospital's Healthy Working Lives Gold Award.

High-efficiency boilers, automatic heating and ventilation controls, and automatic or high-efficiency lighting have been installed to help improve energy efficiency. However
a major feature of the hospital's environmentally friendly polices is mass recycling of rainwater via an innovative water harvesting system. This means that rain landing on the 19,000 square-metre roof can be used in the hospital laundry, as a result the laundry uses around 30 per cent less water from the mains than in the past. The system cost £117,000 to set up and has already paid for itself in reduced water bills for the hospital.
The success of the project has led the environmental team at the hospital to look for other ways of reducing the demand for mains water. There are now plans to install a pond in the grounds that would act as a sustainable urban drainage system to capture the rain water and a system that would clean dirt and detergent from the water so that it could be re-used is being investigated. Together these moves would make the laundry completely self-reliant.

Potential Impact of Using Energy Saving Light Bulbs

According to new research commissioned by the Energy saving Trust, Glasgow could save £12million a year by switching to energy-saving light bulbs; if everyone living in the city made the switch it would save enough electricity to power 34,700 homes.

The study revealed that while Scots think energy-saving lightbulbs are as good as traditional ones, only 27% of households use them; and those who do use them only fit the bulbs in three places out of an average 23 in their home.

Between January and December 2007, 21million energy-saving bulbs were bought, compared to 10m the previous year. Mike Thornton, Director of the Energy Saving Trust in Scotland, said: "If you changed all your remaining bulbs to energy-saving ones, over the course of their lifetime they will save you £600 and 2.7 tonnes of CO2."

Office Furniture Recycling Scheme

A recycling scheme launched in Edinburgh has set itself the target of saving 20,000 tonnes of waste from going to landfill every year. It hopes to see unwanted furniture from some offices reused in others. Space Solutions, will automatically put Recycle in touch with organisations looking to dispose of old furniture during refits.

Ian Kennaway, a spokesman for Recycle Scotland, said: "This is a really exciting project for us. Space Solutions will give us access to a potential 400 businesses, many with furniture they no longer need." Since Recycle Scotland, part of the Edinburgh University Settlement, was formed two years ago it has already recycled 2000 tonnes of furniture; a figure it now hopes will rise rapidly.

More Universities Join Higher Education Carbon Management Scheme

Eighteen more universities from across England and Scotland should be able to collectively cut their carbon footprints by 72,000 tonnes and energy costs by £8.1 million as a result of joining phase four of the Carbon Trust?s Higher Education Carbon Management (HECM) programme. This brings the number of universities working with the Carbon Trust to 68, out of the UK total of 106.

The Carbon Trust is now working with over half of the UK's universities to identify and implement carbon saving opportunities. Success is achieved through a structured programme which includes software to analyse energy consumption and workshop support for staff and senior managers to improve their awareness of energy efficiency.
Through the first three phases of the HECM programme, the Carbon Trust has already worked with 50 universities, identifying annual savings of more than £22 million and 185,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide across all sites involved. Many of the new participants can expect to reduce their energy bills by up to 20 per cent. This new fourth phase of the programme will run until March 2009. Among the new recruits are: University of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian, University of Abertay, University of Heriot-Watt, University of Stirling and Napier University.

Week Ending 18th April

£6m for 'Zero Waste' Technology

The Scottish Government is making up to £6 million available over three years to fund innovative projects to treat organic waste. The projects will be funded through the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), and will include businesses in the private, public and voluntary sectors seeking to treat organic waste, with a particular emphasis on food waste. The Organics Capital Grant Scheme £6 million will be spread over 3 years - £0.9 million in 2007-08, £2.15 million in 2008-09 and £3 million in 2009-10. WRAP will provide up to 30 per cent of the capital cost of in-vessel composters (IVCs), anaerobic digesters (ADs) and thermophilic aerobic digesters (TADs). These plants are capable of treating garden waste and food waste. By 2011, WRAP aims to have established an additional 125,000 tonnes of capacity in Scotland to treat organic waste.

The Love Food, Hate Waste campaign was recently relaunched to raise awareness of the environmental and economic significance of food waste and provide practical advice to householders on how to make the most of the food that they buy. This campaign is seen as a key part of the ongoing work to reduce food waste and achieve the targets set out in the Household Waste Prevention Action Plan (Scotland) to reduce the amount of food waste from Scottish households by 10,000 tonnes by 2008 and 15,000 tonnes by 2010.

Transmission Costs for Renewable Energy

Following a meeting with representatives from the National Grid, First Minister Alex Salmond has said that the development of clean, renewable energy in Scotland is being put at risk by the 'intolerable' electricity transmission charging regime. Mr Salmond argued for a charging system which will support, rather than work against, the development of renewable and clean energy.
Mr Salmond said, "Scotland is united against the National Grid's Electricity Transmission Charging Regime which works against the development of clean, renewable energy in Scotland. Last week, the Government, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Energy and the Scottish Renewables Forum presented our unanswerable case to OFGEM. It was a useful and constructive meeting with OFGEM responding positively to our detailed and robust case for change.
The National Grid is said to have accepted that the whole system is due for fundamental review.
Falkirk's Bid to Reduce CO2 Emissions

Falkirk Council has unveiled plans to cut its carbon emissions by 20% over the next five years. The Authority said it generated about 38,000 tonnes of CO2 during 2005/06, with council properties accounting for more than three quarters of the total. Street lighting in the district produced about 4,000 tonnes of CO2 and fuel usage by council vehicles and staff accounted for 6,000 tonnes.

The plan, which will cost £1.5m over the next five years, will be run in partnership with the Carbon Trust and is expected to save an estimated £1.4m a year.
At present Falkirk Council's annual energy bill stands at about £5m and is projected to rise year on year. The Environment and Heritage Committee has identified at least 12 projects which would significantly cut emissions.

Edinburgh's Green Households May Get Rebate

Those living in Edinburgh with environmentally-friendly homes could be rewarded with a rebate on their council tax. The City Council has agreed to ask the Scottish Government for powers to reward efforts to go green by lowering home and business rates.

The proposals would see people who have made their homes more environmentally friendly, or bought a home in a zero-carbon development, get a reduction.

Companies that have made efforts to cut their carbon footprint, for example by installing a wind turbine or putting on transport for employees, would also be eligible for business rate cuts under the plans.

Recycling Boots

Walking boots are the latest item to become the focus of a nationwide recycling campaign. Walkers are being urged to collect up old pairs of boots for the UK's first Walking Boot Amnesty. Branches of GO Outdoors will collect the boots until the end of April, which will be recycled and distributed to Oxfam stores.

Staff at the outdoor clothing and supplies retailer say because walking boots are built to last, they are made of materials that are not normally biodegradable. Many pairs end up in landfill and those which are incinerated can release harmful dioxins into the atmosphere. Andy Lanigan, general manager of GO Outdoors in Coatbridge, Scotland, said that the campaign was launched after staff realised they were hoarding pairs of old boots they had not worn in years, and speculated that their customers may be doing the same.

Hydro Electric Scheme Approved

Ministers have approved a hydro electric scheme in Perthshire, capable of powering about 1,000 homes. The 1.4 megawatt Innerhadden Burn project will be two kilometres south east of Kinloch Rannoch. The scheme was approved by Perth and Kinross Council in 2006, but had to be referred to the Scottish Government because of its size.

Scots Have Positive Environmental Attitudes

Research released by Banks Developments shows that the Scottish population is developing increasingly positive attitudes towards environmental issues; over 90 per cent claim that they have changed the way they live to reduce the impact of their lifestyle on their surroundings. The most common action, taken by 90 per cent of respondents, was switching household lights and appliances off when not in use, while 87 per cent recycle used materials and 76 per cent use low-energy light bulbs.

The survey results also point to an increasing awareness of the potential for sustainable housing in Scotland, with 40 per cent of respondents saying that their house-buying decisions would be influenced by the environmental impact of the design. Eight nine per cent said that they would not be put off buying an eco-home even if the price is higher than a traditional type of home.

Central Heating Programme a Success

The Scottish Government's Central Heating Programme delivered a record 14,377 central heating systems in 2007-08. Communities Minister, Stewart Maxwell, said that Scottish Gas delivered 14,205 and local authorities delivered a further 172 systems, in total the highest number ever delivered to private homes by the programme.

Additional funding during the year helped to reduce the waiting list from around 11,300 in November to 9,300 by the end of March. In addition, under the Warm Deal Programme, insulation measures have been installed in 5,259 households. In total £45 million per annum is allocated for fuel poverty programmes over 2008-2011 period.

Week Ending 11th April

Scotland's First 'Eco Pub'

The Waterside Pub Partnership has invested £2m in building the country's first 'eco-pub' in Auchinstarry on the Forth and Clyde Canal.

The Boathouse, which is due to open at the end of April, was constructed using timber harvested from a sustainable source, and includes reed beds for treating waste and a geothermal heating system to draw residual heat from the canal and generate hot water and heating. Energy costs are expected to be cut to a quarter of what would be used in a standard building of the same type, with water use minimised through features such as waterless urinals and low-flush toilets. Energy-efficient lighting and refrigeration have also been included, while sensors automatically switch off lights in unoccupied areas.

The Boathouse will be managed by Scottish and Newcastle Pub Enterprises (S&NPE) and will have an adjoining hotel, with 10 bedrooms.

£1.66m for Highlands Recycling

Councillors have approved a £1.66 million plan to improve recycling services in the Highlands. Currently materials are sorted at the kerbside only in urban areas but the Highland council's Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee has agreed to fund a number of improvements to help boost its 30% recycling rate to 40% by 2010.
Changes will include the first doorstep recycling service for rural households and the appointment of four waste awareness officers. Plastic bottle recycling facilities will be made available at all of the region's recycling centres.
The funding will allow the Council to buy five new vehicles and hire 13 extra staff to provide doorstep collections of paper, cards, cans and plastic in rural areas around Skye, Lochaber, Caithness, Easter Ross and Inverness.This service will be monthly and commingled due to the logistics of collecting material over large distances.
Plastic bottle recycling facilities, which were previously piloted in Dingwall and Tain, will also be installed at recycling centres in Wick, Thurso, Alness, Inverness, Granish, Nairn and Fort William.

Leftover Food Collection Trial

Householders in East Renfrewshire have been asked to recycle food waste as part of a 12-month kerbside collection trial. Special compostable bags are being used and then left in a sealed container for collection by the local council. Six thousand households in Merrylee, Carolside, Kirkhill, Barrhead and Neilston have been invited to take part in the trial.

The authority is hoping to cut landfill and make people think about how much food they throw away; £800 million worth of food is thrown out by Scottish consumers each year, amounting to nearly £370 per home. East Renfrewshire Council said more than 500 tonnes of household waste could be diverted from landfill during the trial. Last year the authority sent 24,427 tonnes of biodegradable waste to landfill. Similar trials are underway in 17 areas throughout England and Northern Ireland.

Each household taking part in the trials will be provided with a seven-litre kitchen caddy and bags to go inside them, as well as a larger seal-able container to keep out foxes and rats. All food waste including scrapings from dinner plates, bones, fish skins, cooked and uncooked waste and dairy products can be put into the bags.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency calculates that 63% of the amount of waste the Council sends to landfill is biodegradable and, of this amount, nearly half is made up of organic kitchen or catering waste. The Scottish Waste Awareness Group will monitor the scheme's success.

Wind Farm Plans and Approvals

A 35-turbine wind farm at Gordonbush, near Brora in Sutherland, capable of powering 37,000 homes, has been approved by Ministers. The 87.5 Megawatt, 35 turbine wind farm will be subject to conditions to minimise any potential disturbance to local wildlife and to safeguard local interests.
The Scottish Government has now determined more than twice as many energy applications than in the last year of the previous administration; 11 determinations since May 2007, compared to four determinations in 2006/2007. The Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit is currently processing 37 renewable project applications; 28 wind farm and nine hydro projects totalling 4 Gigawatts.
Energy Minister Jim Mather said, "We have always said we want the right projects in the right places. Gordonbush wind farm will come close to part of the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area, and will be a good example of a sensitively scaled and sited wind farm operating in harmony with the environment. As long as we rigorously assess and safeguard potential impacts on wildlife, there is absolutely no reason that wind farms cannot exist alongside local wildlife. A number of specific detailed conditions relating to the environment, the community and the impact on the bird population have been applied to this application.

Other recent wind farm activity include:

Ministers considering plans for a major wind project on Lewis, in the Western Isles, where Lewis Wind Power wants to build 181-turbines on Barvas Moor.

A proposal for a community-owned windfarm in Rumster Forest, which it is claimed may help regenerate the economy in Caithness. The plans are for three wind turbines, which have the potential to raise £200,000 in annual revenue for the region over an operational period of 20 years.

The Shetland Islands council's plans to reopen a consultation to determine where potential sites for new windfarms on the islands could be located.

Week Ending 4th April

Lottery Funded Energy Boost for Two Scottish Communities

Funding, which totals £1.1 million, will be shared between two community projects focusing on harnessing renewable energy to provide regular income which in turn will be invested into new assets in each community.

The North Harris Trust (NHT) has received £900,000 to support the purchase of a community wind farm. This marks a major step forward in the Trust's plans to site a wind farm on the island. The three turbine, 1.8MW development is expected to generate income averaging £180,000 each year over 12 years.

In central Fife the Ore Valley Housing Association (OVHA) have been awarded a technical assistance grant of £200,000. This will allow the OVHA to fund a full technical breakdown and feasibility plan for a proposed medium scale wind farm near Cardenden, Fife. The funding will also go towards ensuring a full community consultation about harnessing wind energy in this way.

The Scottish Government cancelled a public inquiry into the North Harris scheme last September. Plans for a site at Monan had been delayed for a year after Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) lodged an objection but the agency dropped its complaint that the turbine would impact on a national scenic area. Although widely welcomed, some opponents of wind farms are claiming this as an "inappropriate" use of lottery money.

Saltire Prize for Innovation in Marine Renewable Energy

The Scottish Government it is to offer the world's largest ever single prize for innovation in marine renewable energy. The £10 million Saltire Prize is designed to encourage scientists throughout the world to push the frontiers of innovation in green energy. To be eligible for the prize, innovations must be commercially viable and will be demonstrated in Scotland.

First Minister Alex Salmond made the announcement as part of Scotland Week while at the World headquarters of the National Geographic Society in Washington. Terry Garcia, the National Geographic Society's Head of Global Missions and Anne Glover, Scotland's Chief Scientific Adviser, are the first two members of an expert committee to be approached by the Scottish Government to help shape the Saltire Prize. Other committee members will be announced in the next few weeks. In seeking to capitalise on Scotland's vast marine renewables potential, they will build an international prize committee to define full details of the challenge and announce it on St. Andrew's Day at Edinburgh Castle.

Scotland's Most Committed Energy Savers

Of the more than 21,000 Scots who signed up to the "Save Your 20%" campaign by the Energy Saving Trust; residents of Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Dunbartonshire were the most committed. At the bottom of the list were residents of Selkirkshire, Moray and Peeblesshire where fewer put their names forward. Residents of the three most committed areas will save £447,000 a year between them if they keep their promise. Whereas those in the three least committed areas would save only £860 collectively.

The UK-wide campaign, launched in 2006, encourages people to promise to make changes in order to cut down on damaging carbon emissions. Around 75% of those signed up to the campaign plan to save energy by changing small daily habits. These include things such as using energy saving lightbulbs and washing clothes at lower temperatures. The other 25% of Scots who joined the scheme promised to make changes to their home, such as installing loft insulation.