Glasgow Business . 31 www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com


ADVERTORIAL www.scottishwater.co.uk/horizons


POWER FOODS F


or all of the fi ne rhetoric around sustainability, there is still a huge waste issue in the UK.


In Scotland, for example, we


produce about two million tonnes of food waste each year, some of which ends up in landfi ll where it releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. According to a WR P report in 2011, about 600,000 of this is from hotels, restaurants and bars, which is not only bad for the environment, it’s also a fi nancial drain for businesses. Such a scenario is clearly


unsustainable in the longer term. T is is why landfi ll tax rates continue to rise and it explains the rationale and justifi cation behind the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012. Among other things, the regulations will mean any business creating over fi ve kilograms of food waste a week will be required to separate it for collection. With specifi c reference to food,


businesses and public sector organisations (except in rural areas) which produce more than 50kg of food waste per week will have to separate food waste for collection from 1 January 2014. T ose which produce more than 5kg of food waste per week will have to separate that food waste for collection from 1 January 2016. T e good news is that one


organisation is ideally equipped to help businesses in the food industry to meet these legislative requirements. Scot ish Water Horizons (SWH), the energy and waste management subsidiary of Scot ish Water, off ers a cost-eff ective solution for food waste from its recycling centre at Cumbernauld which was transformed from a waste water treatment works. Known as an anaerobic


digestion plant, the facility takes food waste and converts it into green electricity for export to the grid.


Donald MacBrayne,


Commercial Manager for SWH, explained: “T e key for long-term sustainability is a combination of reducing overall food waste volumes and transforming what’s leſt into valuable resources. “Separating food waste for


collection enables organisations to keep a tighter hold on food waste and associated costs – important in the current economic climate.” T e Cumbernauld plant accepts


food waste from a wide variety of outlets, providing a convenient, environmentally friendly solution for business food waste needs. Donald added that transport


miles are also key. “An important factor as far as our facility is concerned is its location, which, based close to the junction of the M73 and M80, off ers access to all the main strategic links,” he said. “In waste management generally, it is important to have your site as close as possible to where the


waste is generated, both from a cost management point of view and to reduce carbon miles. “T ere is much more demand


now and we are seeing an increase in customer appetite for food waste recycling. Smart customers are now looking to forge long-term partnerships with world-class facilities such as ours.” SWH’s plant works with all


food-related businesses – from local authorities, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and food processors to colleges and larger offi ce premises. Donald and his team can off er


clients an initial free food waste consultation service, as well as providing them with regular reports on the volumes of food waste they are producing – enabling customers to keep a tighter hold on food waste and associated costs. In short, each client receives a


service tailored to their individual business, with the size and number of bins and collection frequency


adjusted to the amount and nature of waste generated. T e plant’s team can also help


customers to choose the right type of waste bin – whether it be a sealed kitchen caddie, a large wheelie bin or a skip. Staff training and the provision of support materials is also part of the package off ered to clients. As well as upping their


recycling rates, clients working with SWH’s food waste facility also have the satisfaction of knowing that revenues generated at the site are reinvested into green-related projects. Generating renewable energy ultimately helps to off set Scot ish Water’s electricity bill which, in turn, helps in the management of household water charges.


FOR MORE INFORMATION


Call Marcella French on 01786 458909.


Recycle food waste to generate energy Scottish Water Horizon’s anaerobic digestion plant


converts the food waste from a range of organisations into gas which is used to generate electricity for the national grid. Below: Donald MacBrayne


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