Carbon Metric To Be Scotlands Future Course
17 March 2011
The Scottish Government will soon make a shift to Carbon Metric Reporting System for recycling performance starting 2013 as the preferred route to achieve the targets set by the country's Zero Waste Plan. The move is seen as an attempt by the government to set out a "strategic direction" for Scotland's waste policy and clearly indicates the country's determined efforts in tackling Zero Waste targets that include 50% recycling target for all waste by 2013, which will gradually increase to 70% by 2025.
The metric was officially launched on 15 March and is designed by the Scottish Government and Zero Waste Scotland with advice and input provided by a steering committee comprising of experts belonging to the Chartered Institution of Waste Management. The methodology uses a "Life Cycle approach" to assess the impact a range of materials and products cause on the environment.
The process that this system entails includes the application of "carbon factors", which are based on the measuring of a product's environmental benefits when recycled as opposed to sending it to the landfill. This helps in calculating and assigning "carbon weightings" to each product, which will determine its rank in terms of its environmental impact. The process enables a clear graph of the degree of the environmental impact of specific waste, which will in turn help authorities in making strategic decisions in prioritising waste.
Furthermore, the metric will base its assessment on the greenhouse gas emissions that result due to the extraction of raw materials, processing, manufacture and disposal of products. However, the system does not measure the product's "carbon footprint" instead highlights alternative waste management options.
Announcing the launch of the new methodology, environment secretary Richard Lochead, said: "I'm delighted to announce another huge and world-leading step the Scottish Government is taking to monitor Scotland's recycling successes. The new way of measuring performance will focus on the carbon savings of each item, rather than its weight."
Krishna Buddhiraju
