Scotland Waste Ban to Send Surplus to England

Scotland's ban on burying 'black bag' waste in landfill is set to take effect on December 31, 2024, after being delayed from 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and business readiness concerns. The ban aims to reduce methane emissions from biodegradable waste but has led to a projected 600,000-tonne capacity gap in its first year. Up to 100 truckloads of waste may be sent daily to England, as Scotland currently lacks sufficient incinerators and processing sites. Local councils are negotiating with English landfill operators to manage this overflow, while environmentalists warn of increased emissions and infrastructure strain from transporting waste. Scottish officials and experts say exporting waste should be a short-term solution as new incinerators are developed. The UK government has stated it cannot prevent English landfill operators from accepting Scottish waste under current law.