This was an event hosted jointly by Hydrasun, One Stop Waste Solutions and the Bright Green Business Partnership on Wednesday 2nd October, at Hydrasun’s premises in the Gateway Business Park . It focused on the impact of the new Waste (Scotland) Regulations and the requirements they put upon businesses from the beginning of 2014.

The event included a site tour of One Stop Waste’s Recycling and Waste Processing facility, and demonstrated the effective partnership that Hydrasun and One Stop Waste have brokered in order to ensure that Hydrasun can effectively manage waste management performance, and used it as a real life example of what can be achieved by other companies.

The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 come into force in just 6 months’ time. They require all businesses to recycle as must of their waste as possible. Aberdeen waste specialist, One Stop Waste Solutions is offering free audits to local businesses concerned about compliance.

The main changes are that all businesses must present metal, plastic, glass, paper and card separately for recycling from 1 January 2014. Materials which are collected for recycling must not be sent to landfill or for incineration.

Food businesses which produce over 50 kg of food waste per week must present it for separate collection from 1 January 2014. Small food companies (producing less than 5kg of food waste per week) and business in rural areas are exempt until 1 January 2016.

The changes are part of the Government’s Zero Waste initiative and are aimed at significantly reducing the amount of waste that is landfilled.

One Stop Waste Solutions, which has been shortlisted for a Northern Star Business Award, recently employed a new Waste Specialist, Phil Cairns, to help check that local companies are aware of the new regulations.

Craig Donoghue, Managing Director of One Stop Waste Solutions commented, “Many companies will find that they are already compliant with the new law, but some will have to put systems in place to ensure that materials are segregated and collected correctly. We are offering a free site survey to companies in the Grampian area so that they know whether or not they are compliant in advance of the regulations being introduced and have time to put the correct processes in place if required.”

He added, “With the recent increase in landfill tax from £72 to £80 per tonne it is in everyone’s interests to check that they are recycling as much as possible.”

For a free waste audit, contact One Stop Waste Solutions on 01224 782050.

We are absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for The Green Award at this year’s Northern Star Business Awards. The Awards ceremony takes place on 26 September, and we will be keeping our fingers firmly crossed until then. Thanks to all of our clients who have made it possible for us to compete in this prestigious event.

We are proud to be one of the official sponsors of the Stonehaven Half Marathon which takes place on the 7th July this year. Our MD Craig hasn’t entered yet,but he promises he will if we get 50 likes on our Facebook page. We have a long way to go, so please get clicking. We think it’s only right that Craig gets to lace up his running shoes on the day!

Our Facebook page is: One Stop Waste Solutions

While you’re at it, please follow us on Twitter  too: @onestopwaste

Our new Waste Specialist, Phil Cairns, started working with us at One Stop Waste in April. Phil is currently undergoing an intensive training programme to bring him up to speed  with all the relevant legislation so that he can get out and about advising clients and preparing them for the introduction of the new laws. He will be speaking to as many of our current and prospective clients as possible to make sure everyone is compliant well in advance of the 31 December deadline. He is looking forward to meeting all of you to talk about recycling and waste reduction (and possibly loud music – Phil plays in local punk band, Needleman!)   Please give him a warm welcome.

In the last year we have collected over 5400 tonnes of waste from local businesses and recycled over 4200 tonnes. That’s 76% of business waste diverted from landfill, well on the way to our target of 90% by 2018.

Dumping waste in landfill is unsustainable and causes large quantities of carbon dioxide to be released into the environment. We estimate that the amount of waste we alone diverted from landfill last year has reduced CO2 emissions by 4794 tonnes, the equivalent of 607 return flights from here to Australia!