Our Client
Zero Waste Scotland
TACKLING SCOTLAND’S RECYCLING RATE WITH GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL AND ZERO WASTE SCOTLAND. ( 2021 - 2023 )
We combined our in-depth expertise in designing and implementing real-world recycling solutions with our proprietary waste collection modelling tool Hermes, which allows a wide range of authority specific and collection system variables to be modelled at a level that no other industry tool can match.
SUMMARY
Glasgow City Council, supported by Zero Waste Scotland, wanted to understand the environmental and financial impact of collecting their waste and recycling in different ways, taking into account the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) across Scotland.
As the biggest city in Scotland Glasgow is a key changemaker in helping the country meet its recycling targets.
However, the property types in Glasgow – including tenement buildings, where recycling solutions are notoriously tricky to implement – raised specific operational and logistical challenges.
Eunomia was uniquely positioned to tackle the challenge. We combined our in-depth expertise in designing and implementing real-world recycling solutions with our proprietary waste collection modelling tool Hermes, which allows a wide range of authority specific and collection system variables to be modelled at a level that no other industry tool can match.
Add to this our methodological approach, with step-by-step support and guidance, and we were able to present a range of potential solutions for different housing types across the city that would deliver efficiency savings and help the Council increase its recycling performance.
The output of our work acted as an evidence base for Glasgow City Council’s successful bid for funding to modernise its recycling collections through the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund. The exercise also provided valuable insights that can be applied to other urban local authorities looking to meet recycling targets.
Glasgow City Council, supported by Zero Waste Scotland, wanted to understand the environmental and financial impact of collecting their waste and recycling in different ways, taking into account the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) across Scotland.
The ultimate goal would be to maximise material quality and recycling rates, in accordance with the Household Recycling Charter agreed by the Scottish Government and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).
Glasgow is a highly urban authority whose property types – including tenement buildings, where recycling solutions are notoriously tricky to implement due to practical issues like narrow spaces and flights of stairs that make it difficult to manoeuvre bins – raised specific challenges.
This made Eunomia the perfect partner – we were proud to offer Hermes, our proprietary waste collection model that allows a wide range of authority specific and collection system variables to be modelled at a level that no other industry tool can match.
Our first action was to establish the operational baseline for the service, establishing the cost and recycling performance within the city.
Once the baseline of the current service was established, we were able to model a range of potential solutions, taking account of the impact of policy changes, such as the introduction of DRS, while seeking to optimise the recycling and refuse collection service. Our analysis provided the environmental and financial impact of each option, alongside key operational considerations to inform Council decision making.
The project is currently being revisited, as policy change means glass containers are no longer being considered for the DRS. Our in-depth knowledge of policy and practical expertise means we are adept at re-modelling waste collection systems in accordance with policy changes.
Glasgow is absolutely critical in terms of what Scotland is trying to achieve with its recycling targets – but it is big and complex.
Eunomia was able to provide tangible solutions that effectively proved any future scheme’s viability, by applying both our credibility from previous waste collection projects and creativity in resolving complex scenarios. The solutions are currently under consideration by the Council and contributed to the evidence basis in its successful bid for funding to modernise its recycling collections through the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund.
Ultimately, it is real people who have the potential to initiate significant environmental change – we understand the pressures facing local authorities and know the best support we can provide extends beyond simply signposting them in the right direction. We’re here every step of the way, through each stage of the process, to provide practical guidance and support.
While every region has its own unique challenges, urban areas face many of the same challenges (particularly around difficult properties) as Glasgow.
We’re continuing to work closely with a range of city councils on similar waste collection scenarios, and are committed to creating as-long-as-possible lifecycles for materials and natural resources in order to safeguard the future of our planet.