News Roundup

Scotland’s £1.3 Billion Food Waste Problem

A new Zero Waste Scotland report reveals households are binning £1.3 billion worth of food every year — that’s around £234 per person, or nearly £100 a month for the average family. Shockingly, 73% of that waste was edible. Overcooking, poor planning, and not using food in time are the main culprits. With a landfill ban for biodegradable waste due in January 2026, the pressure to cut food waste is mounting.

Recycle Week: Toothpaste Tubes Go Plastic-Only

Toothpaste brands are switching from hard-to-recycle aluminium–plastic tubes to fully plastic designs, making them technically recyclable. With 25 million tubes sold annually in the UK, it’s a big step forward — but Alasdair points out a gap: while they can be recycled, most facilities aren’t yet equipped to capture them. For now, they may still end up in general waste.

Energy-from-Waste & Carbon Costs: A SUEZ Warning

A new SUEZ report challenges fears that the emissions trading scheme (ETS) will inevitably send waste-to-energy costs soaring. Councils, it argues, can reduce exposure by improving recycling rates and targeting “carbon-heavy” waste streams like plastics, electricals, and nappies. Alasdair highlights that better infrastructure today could mean lower costs tomorrow.

Topic: Recycling Collection Systems

This week we looked at how recycling collections compare across Scotland, England and Wales—and why some systems deliver better outcomes than others.

In Scotland, the Household Recycling Code of Practice was introduced in 2016, aiming to standardise collections of paper/card, plastics/metals/cartons, glass and food waste. Nearly all councils signed up, but consistency remains patchy. Different bin colours and rules confuse the public, and Zero Waste Scotland estimates 81% of what goes in residual bins shouldn’t be there. Food waste collections are also underused, showing the system is in place but underperforming.

England is now rolling out “simpler recycling,” due by March 2026. This standardises collections with four core containers—including a weekly food waste service for most households. It’s a big shift, but councils face major operational challenges: sourcing new bins, adapting routes, and finding capacity at treatment facilities. Soft plastics are also on the agenda, but without reprocessing infrastructure in place, their recyclability remains questionable.

Wales continues to lead with around 57% recycling. Its kerbside sort system delivers higher-quality recyclate, supported by legally binding recovery targets that drive consistent progress. This mix of clear targets, high-quality outputs and strong public engagement has kept Wales ahead of the rest of the UK.

Key takeaway: Recycling systems only work if they deliver both quality and consistency. Wales proves that clear targets and well-designed services can transform results. For Scotland and England, the biggest gains now lie in getting food waste out of residual bins, aligning messaging with infrastructure, and ensuring what’s collected can actually be recycled.

Rubbish Rant: Back Lane Dumping

This week’s rant was more of a “mini rant” from Alasdair. While out and about, he’s noticed more and more items being abandoned in back lanes — old furniture, bags of waste, or random junk left outside garden gates. The problem? It doesn’t just disappear. Often it sits there for weeks or months, creating eyesores and attracting more fly-tipping.

As Alasdair points out, extra bins mean more are stored in lanes rather than gardens — but that seems to encourage some people to leave other things out too. Whether it’s wishful thinking or just avoiding a trip to the recycling centre, it’s a bad habit that quickly turns shared spaces into dumping grounds.

Key takeaway: Bins are for waste, not the back gate. If it’s bulky, book a collection or take it to the recycling site — don’t expect it to vanish on its own.