1. Portfolio/Number/Name:ERD/C5 - Strategic Waste Fund NEW |
2. Programme/Activity: The Strategic Waste Fund ( SWF) is a specific grant scheme established by the Scottish Executive to assist with the implementation of the aims and objectives of the National Waste Plan: Scotland ( NWP). The NWP sets out the long-term approach to promote sustainable waste management practice and move to a position where we consider ourselves to be dealing with resources rather than waste. By investing in improvements in recycling facilities, recycling capacity is increased and through continual incremental improvements in service delivery and economies of scale the cost of recycling decreases thereby generating cash efficiencies from use of existing infrastructure. |
3. Efficiency | 3.1 Current target; £m | | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 |
Cash | 0 | 0 | 3.2 |
Time | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3.2 Efficiencies delivered; £m | | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 |
Cash | - | - | - |
Time | - | - | - |
4. Accountable Officer for delivery | Richard Wakeford |
5. Project Manager | Gordon Jackson |
6. EGDD Portfolio Manager | Angus Gardner |
7. Description of efficiency and actions to be taken | 7.1 What is the efficiency improvement? How will the efficiencies be made? The efficiency improvement is the reduction in the revenue cost per tonne of dealing with recyclable waste. The strategic waste fund supports local authorities in increasing and improving recycling facilities. These improvements allow greater quantities of waste materials to be recycled, and through improvements in service delivery the cost of this recycling reduces. The efficiency is calculated by comparing the revenue cost in 2007-08 with the revenue cost per tonne in 2004-05 and multiplying this cost differential by the actual tonnage of recyclate produced in 2007-08. This is shown on the chart below: 
The efficiency improvement will be delivered by increasing the recycling rate to 27% (of a projected tonnage of 3,518,830 tonnes of total waste) in 2007/08. The efficiency target is calculated from forecasts of both waste arisings and tonnage recycled, and actual data is reported to the Executive in arrears (approximately six months after year end). Note: The figures for the year 2008/09 are shown for indicative purposes only to demonstrate the anticipated recurring nature of efficiency savings arising from improvements in performance resulting from use of existing infrastructure. However, the actual figures are likely to differ from those shown due to the law of diminishing returns and the need to make new investment in new infrastructure to achieve even higher levels of performance. |
7.2 What are the main actions that are needed to secure the delivery of this efficiency improvement? - Continual incremental improvement by local authorities in the manner in which recyclate is currently collected from existing infrastructure;
- Improved waste recycling facilities being made available.
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8. Associated costs | 8.1 Are there any development or redundancy costs associated with the delivery of this efficiency? There are no redundancy costs associated with the delivery of this efficiency. The Strategic Waste Fund is a development fund that promotes sustainable waste management in Scotland. The Fund exists to improve recycling capacity and recycling rates in Scotland. These improvements are required in order for Scotland to increase its recycling performance. Deriving efficiencies is an additional benefit of this activity and is not the main driver for these improvements. |
9. Measurement | 9.1 What are the inputs that will be measured? The input that will be measured is the revenue cost of recycling waste. |
9.2 What are the outputs that will be measured? The output that will be measured is the tonnages of waste arising and recycled. |
9.3 What is the baseline for inputs and outputs? The baseline for inputs and outputs is 2004-05. |
10. Quality cross-check | 10.1 What quality indicators are being used to ensure that quality of service is maintained or improved? The quality of the recycled waste service will be monitored by way of: - gathering qualitative intelligence from WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and ReMaDe (Recycling Market Development) on any fluctuations in the level of recyclate market demand;
- customer satisfaction surveys undertaken by the Scottish Waste Awareness Group; and
- obtaining feedback from SEPA on any recyclate contamination issues arising at regulated re-processor sites.
To ensure that reduction in the revenue cost per tonne has not come at a cost to the quality of service provided. |
11. Monitoring | 11.1 What are the arrangements for monitoring the delivery of efficiencies? Successful applicants to the Strategic Waste Fund are required to monitor Strategic Waste Fund grant expenditure on recycling waste and the volume of waste they recycle every quarter. |
12. Reporting | 12.1 What are the arrangements for reporting the delivery of efficiencies? Successful applicants to the Strategic Waste Fund must make quarterly returns to the Executive on Strategic Waste Fund grant expenditure and to SEPA on the amount of waste recycled. Although there is currently a 6 month delay in reporting performance following each quarter a new data reporting system has recently been introduced and it is anticipated that this will speed up the availability of performance data. |
13. Dependencies | 13.1 Explain if your efficiencies are dependent on legislation or other structural changes being achieved. The efficiencies are dependent on public participation in new waste management services and the development and maintenance of markets for recycled materials. |
14. Use of efficiencies | 14.1 How are the efficiencies released from improvement activity being used to improve front-line services? This efficiency improvement is enabling more waste to be recycled by local authorities from use of existing infrastructure for the same or less money. Therefore, the efficiency is being used by local authorities to recycle more waste and improve waste management services. |