What’s Your Waste Code? Navigating Biodegradable Mixed Waste in Scotland

Turning Challenges into Opportunities: A Pragmatic Approach

In the dynamic landscape of waste management, Scotland faces pivotal decisions. The impending ban on biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) disposal in landfills, effective from end of December 2025, has significant implications for waste operators. Simultaneously, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) adds pressure, soon impacting gate fees for Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities. Amidst these challenges, innovative solutions emerge, and waste handlers must adapt swiftly.

The BMW Ban: A Regulatory Shift

The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 set a bold goal: near-elimination of BMW in Scottish landfills by 2028. This ambitious target aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resource recovery. For waste operators, it means reevaluating traditional disposal routes and exploring alternatives.

With the ban approaching, landfill operators face uncertainty. Gate fees, once tied to local landfill prices, are now subject to market dynamics. Waste handlers without long-term contracts may encounter hefty price increases.

Equally, EfW plants are forced to make significant changes to their operations and infrastructure to stay economically viable and face the future. With the ETS coming into force in 2028, the early indications of gate fees are likely to increase by over 30%.

The need for sustainable waste treatment options and alternative offtakes is urgent.

Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF): A Transformative Solution

Entering the SRF market used to be difficult for independent waste operators. Among many technical hurdles, there was a significant infrastructural investment required to treat MSW or other biodegradable waste streams, hence waste operators tended to simply shred the waste and send it off as RDF. However, with the rising cost of EfW offtake on the horizon, processing biodegradable waste into SRF cab provide a route to increased profitability.

The SRF market is rapidly growing due to the expansion of the alternative fuels market. Today, SRF is mainly used in cement production, requiring 1.5m tonnes of feedstock annually. Other offtake opportunities, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Methanol and Ethanol Production, Hydrogen Production and Light and Heavy Oils Production, are being developed as part of the transition towards greater energy and fuel independence, further increasing the demand for SRF by estimated 4m tonnes per year.

Scotland’s waste operators should explore how transforming biodegradable waste streams into SRF could evolve their businesses and prepare for the greener future.

Advetec’s Role in the Transition Towards More Sustainable Alternatives

Advetec, a pioneer in treatment of waste using biotechnology, plays a crucial role in helping waste operators turn non-recyclable waste into SRF and access economically attractive offtake opportunities:

1. From Landfill to Resource Recovery and Beyond: Our microbial solutions accelerate decomposition, creating a valuable resource. SRF from BWM holds a greater value than the SRF derived from recyclates (read more here) and finds applications in various industries, reducing landfill and EfW dependency. Advetec’s expertise ensures compliance with waste regulations and suitability for offtakers It gives its customers access to most up to date information on ways to extract greater value out of the output materials.  
2. Making Waste Stable and AT4-Compliant: Advetec’s technology stabilises biodegradable waste, allowing it to be disposed of at landfill. It has been confirmed that biodegradable waste treated by our technology complies with Scottish AT4 limits that measure waste stability. (read more here)
3. Hub-and-Spoke Technology: Advetec empowers independent waste handlers as well as remote and rural areas by providing XO systems that treat waste on-site without an outlay costs or large infrastructure. Low upfront cost, along with an easy implementation of the technology, allows businesses and communities to benefit from this alternative treatment.

As Scotland embraces a circular future, waste operators must act strategically. SRF, hydrogen production, and gasification offer pathways beyond landfills or energy from waste. Advetec stands ready to support waste handlers on their journey toward sustainable waste management. Let’s turn biodegradable municipal waste streams into a commodity.

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