Technical Notes 2022, Issue 102 - Clyde Valley Residual Waste Treatment Contract - Impact on Plastic Recycling
Report by:
Ann Davie, Depute Chief Executive
TN Number:
102-22
Subject:
Clyde Valley Residual Waste Treatment Contract - Impact on Plastic Recycling
Responsible Officer:
Paul Curran, Executive Officer - Neighbourhood Services
Publication:
This Technical Note will be published on the Council’s website following circulation to Member. Its contents may be disclosed or shared outwith the Council.
Section
The purpose of this Technical Note is to advise Members of the effectiveness of controls for the monitoring of the Clyde Valley Residual Waste Treatment contract and following a recent Audit and Risk report, submitted to Council on 16 June 2022 (CFO/013/22/GM) the overall impact for plastics recycling.
In addition to the recent EDC Internal Audit report, the Internal Audit Team at North Lanarkshire Council, as Lead Authority for the Contract, also completed an audit against the criteria outlined in the IAA (Inter Authority Agreement). This work included and assessed the Clyde Valley Waste Contract Management Team (CMT) arrangements for ensuring that payment processes and project monitoring arrangements had operated in accordance with the key aspects outlined in the Authority Requirement.
The findings of this work categorised the audit as offering ‘Substantial assurance’ andconsidered that on the basis of the current management of the contract to date, a sound system of governance, risk management and control was in place which is consistent with the expectations placed upon the ‘Lead Authority’ as outlined in the IAA. The report went on to advise that the CVWC Management Team (CMT) had discharged their obligations significantly as expected with appropriate arrangements in place for the monitoring of waste processing information, processing payments and monitoring the contractor’s performance.
The main purpose of the Clyde Valley Contract is for the Treatment and diversion of Residual Waste (Grey bin) from Landfill, in line with the Scottish Government Ban on Residual Waste to Landfill due in January of 2021 and subsequently delayed until 2025, with all partner Councils fulfilling their obligations significantly ahead of this date.
On the specific matter of Plastics recycling, all residual waste collected through the contract is sent for processing through a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at The Viridor Plant in Bargeddie. Plastics and metals are removed through an automated sorting process for recycling or reuse.
At present there is no viable market available for contaminated Plastics collected from residual waste bins through an MRF, due to the materials being mixed with food, soiled nappies and associated health risks and subsequent odours. This has been recognised by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) who have issued a derogation for removing plastics for recycling at these facilities.
The Plastic materials removed from the Council residual waste stream through this process are made into plastic blocks, which are then used as fuel in the manufacture of cement, in their kilns. This activity demonstrates a positive step for the Council in the diversion of waste from landfill.
In financial year 2021/22 EDC removed around 1240 Tonnes of plastic through this process however until another market can be found for dirty plastic, this does not count towards recycling targets.
The Council operate a very successful Kerbside plastic recycling service. As of Monday 28th March 2022 the Council expanded its acceptable plastics to include plastics bags, food trays, film and foils in the household brown bin. This has proven to be very well received by residents and will reduce the plastic material sent for processing through the Clyde Valley residual waste contract.
There is no risk to this contract for the Council with the diversion of material, with the composition risk for the residual waste sitting entirely with the contractor.
