The Scottish Government

MINIMISE WASTE BY REDUCTION, REUSE, REPAIR AND RECYCLING METHODS.

Targets:

• Reduce the amount of office waste going to landfill by recycling 80% of total wastes arising by March 2011.
• Reduce total wastes arising by 10% by 2011 relative to 2006/07 levels.
• Reduce total wastes arising by 25% by 2020 relative to 2006/07 levels.

To achieve our objective it is the policy of the Government to:

• maintain records of baseline information locally for levels of recycled office waste generated by all targeted buildings;
• promote the reduced use of paper, e.g. by double-sided printing and copying, using waste paper as scrap paper before recycling and maximising the use of alternative technologies and electronic media;
• provide central arrangements to recycle waste paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, toner cartridges, drinks cans, furniture, fluorescent tubes, personal computers, monitors, keyboards, printers, mobile/desk telephones, fax machines and other miscellaneous office equipment;
• encourage staff, manufacturers, suppliers and contractors to minimise the volume of packaging used and to recover and recycle packaging where practicable;
• process all waste in accordance with legal requirements and best practice;
• investigate enhancing current waste management facilities in target buildings on the estate to improve recycling levels;
• establish baseline of wastes arising following implementation of eRDM and establish waste minimisation target;
• develop programmes of activities to reduce wastes arising from baseline year; and
• establish a method to express wastes arising in terms of GHG emissions and investigate feasibility of off-setting through investment in emissions reducing projects to minimise the impact of waste production.

It is the responsibility of all Government staff to:-

• observe the waste hierarchy and practise the "4 Rs" to minimise wastes arising ( find out more );
• ensure you print and photocopy double-sided wherever possible;
• purchase only what is needed - savings from smaller unit costs for bulk orders are lost if items are left unused;
• use available waste management facilities effectively to minimise the amounts of waste sent to landfill;
• encourage suppliers to minimise volumes of packaging used or, where possible, use packaging which can be returned to the supplier for reuse;
• re-use envelopes & packaging where practical and recycle where not; and
• when ordering, consider extended packaging, like wooden pallets, associated with the delivery of goods.

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Targets:

• Reduce the average water consumption in our key buildings to 5.5m ³ per person per year by March 2020.

To achieve our objective it is the policy of the Government to:

• monitor, record and audit water consumption in selected targeted buildings;
• achieve an average water consumption of 3m ³ per person per year for all new office builds or major refurbishments;
• specify water-efficient appliances and equipment and install and maintain flow restricting devices and more efficient technologies where it is economic and practicable to do so; and
• follow conservation best practice throughout the Scottish Government estate.

It is the responsibility of all Government staff to:

• report any leaks or drips to Help Central to help prevent unnecessary waste of water.

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To achieve our objective it is the policy of the Government to:

• monitor discharge and emission impacts to air, land and water to assess what action is necessary to reduce pollution or the risk of pollution;
• minimise the use of hazardous substances and ensure that where they must be used they are stored, used and disposed of in accordance with legislation and best practice;
• develop and maintain emergency procedures for dealing effectively with significant hazards and limiting the risk to health and the environment;
• develop a risk assessment tool enabling Government staff to comply with COSHH regulations incorporating Departmental inventory lists for any hazardous substances held;
• encourage the use of building materials, furnishings, etc which are low emitters of potentially hazardous substances;
• undertake a programme to remove all ozone depleting substances across the Scottish Government estate in line with EC Regulation No 2037/2000;
• continue to monitor and record the presence of asbestos in all buildings and comply with all regulatory guidance during the course of general maintenance and refurbishment work;
• continue to recycle fluorescent tubes as part of planned relamping programmes; and
• keep the Scottish Government buildings and grounds clear of litter and refuse.

It is the responsibility of all Government staff:

• not to undertake any activities that would breach any legislative or other requirements.

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To achieve our objective it is the policy of the Government to:

IN GENERAL

• disseminate guidance on sustainable procurement;
• work with our main consumables supplier to provide staff with clear information about environmentally preferable products;
• require that all purchases are made in accordance with this environmental policy statement, relevant current and foreseen legislation, its guides for suppliers and buyers and other official guidance;
• ensure that the practice of its buyers is consistent with this statement;
• take account of whole life costs and not just the initial price when assessing value for money;
• specify recycled products where practicable and where they provide value for money taking account of whole life costs;
• encourage the use of the most energy efficient products where they give value for money, taking account of whole life costs;
• specify at least 10% of the value of materials used on projects over £1m in construction applications should derive from recycled content;
• specify fully bio-degradable substances such as wood, cardboard and vegetable based lubricating oils, where they represent the best environmental option and value for money;
• minimise the use of batteries, where there is a better environmental option offering value for money, by improving information about alternatives to buyers;
• evaluate, as appropriate, the environmental performance of tenderers, when such performance is directly relevant and related to the subject matter of the contract by integrating an environmental questionnaire into supplier evaluations;
• integrate reclamation and recycling or an environmentally preferable method of disposal of packaging into supply contracts;
• develop practical trials in the workplace to establish suitability of environmentally preferable goods for general office use;
• meet all relevant current and foreseen statutory regulations and official codes of practice and ensure contractors do the same when working on Scottish Government premises; and
• use centrally negotiated contracts for ordering all IT/Telephone equipment to ensure best value, energy efficiency and full support for life of item.

WOOD

• minimise the need to purchase wood products by re-using or reconfiguring existing resources where practical;
• specify in orders and contracts that suppliers must provide evidence that timber and timber products have been lawfully obtained from forests or plantations that are being sustainably managed;
• consider buying reclaimed timber or products made from reclaimed timber where it is cost effective and practical;
• specify chipboard and medium density fibreboards (MDF) indicating a preference for those made with a minimum percentage of 80% recycled material;
• ensure documented or certified evidence under a credible scheme is provided by suppliers which demonstrates:

1. the operation of an environmental management system, incorporating forest management criteria that complies with internationally recognised principles;
2. certification under a national or country specific scheme which is approved by one or more internationally recognised umbrella or accreditation schemes;
3. that the timber has been acquired in accordance with national legislation in the country of origin and any applicable international agreements ( CITES );

1. FSC - Forestry Stewardship Council
2. CSA - Canadian Standards Association
3. PEFC - Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes
4. SFI - Sustainable Forestry Initiative;

• put in place procedures for considering and recording any purchase which cannot be substantiated as coming from sustainable sources which cover:

1. the necessity of the purchase (eg for particular species of timber)
2. the specification, e.g. Can another species meet the requirements? Can large sizes be met by gluing? Can supply dates be extended?
3. justification of the purchase in terms of value for money taking account of whole life cycle costs
4. the use of independent advice;
5. an assessment of the effect of using alternative products, eg is the alternative (steel, concrete, plastic, etc) likely to be more damaging to the environment; and

• obtain authorisation from a senior manager at least one level above that of the project manager only if an exemption to the above is essential.

PAPER

• ensure that all Government staff purchase recycled paper for general office applications containing 100% recycled content with a minimum of 75% post-consumer waste;
• all other paper for printing and writing applications should contain at least 50% recycled content;
• ensure all products for tissue paper applications contain 100% recycled content;
• ensure that any virgin pulp used in its manufacture comes from sustainably-managed woodlands and that both the virgin pulp and the recycling process is at least elemental chlorine-free but preferably totally chlorine-free, i.e., manufactured using non-chlorine bleaching agents such as oxygen, peracetic acid, sodium peroxide and more efficient pulping techniques; and
• ensure that material published or printed by the Scottish Government is sealed using a water-miscible varnish (not a plasticised finish) and is bound using a water based adhesive or other material which does not impede recycling. Inks shall be recognised as environmentally friendly, such as vegetable oil based or sustainable equivalents.

It is the responsibility of all Government staff to:

• satisfy the environmental considerations of the Scottish Government's procurement policy; and
• use recycled paper for all general printing, photocopying and writing applications.

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Targets:

• Reduce CO ₂ emissions caused by energy use in our buildings by 12.6%, from 1999/2000 levels, by March 2011.
• Reduce CO ₂ emissions caused by energy use in our buildings by 30%, from 1999/2000 levels, by March 2020.
• Ensure the core Government estate is carbon neutral by 2012.

To achieve our objective it is the policy of the Government to:

• maintain our plant and machinery to ensure optimum efficiency;
• effectively manage heating plant across the estate to ensure the most efficient use of energy;
• ensure the energy consumption per square metre of all new buildings and major refurbishments on the core Scottish Government estate meet energy efficiency levels demanded by building standards under Building (Scotland) Act 2003;
• encourage staff to save energy through activities to raise their environmental awareness in the workplace and at home;
• procure electricity from renewable sources, whenever competitive and investigate options for off-setting of emissions from other energy use;
• adopt the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Programme to realise carbon emissions savings;
• investigate options for on site microgeneration of renewable energy where reasonably practicable;
• continue to research new products, methods and technologies for conserving energy and resources, including heat exchange units, renewable power generation and displacement cooling systems whenever feasible and cost effective;
• develop an energy action plan identifying no cost, low cost and capital cost measures looking at both better management of existing systems and where better technology can be utilised to reduce the carbon emissions relative to building operations; and
• display the 'operational ratings' (actual energy performance) at our target buildings, to complement the 'asset ratings' (theoretical energy performance) required by the EC Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings.

It is the responsibility of all Government staff to:

• use all electrical equipment efficiently to minimise energy waste remembering to switch off when not in use and before you leave each night;
• shut down the PC when intending on being away from your desk for more than 30 minutes, or when not in use - as a guide if the screensaver is showing at least the monitor should be switched off. Remember to switch off your monitor each time you power down your PC; even in power save with the base unit switched off it is still using energy;
• not use personal electrical items in the workplace such as kettles and toasters where kitchen and/or restaurant facilities are available;
• not use personal heaters and fans unless issued by Facilities and Estates Services to remedy a specific heating or cooling problem;
• report any heating or lighting faults or damage to the fabric of the building to Help Central to help minimise possibility of energy waste; and
• work within the requirements of the Government's thermal comfort guidance to help ensure efficient use of energy.

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Targets:

• Reduce carbon emissions from travel necessary for the Scottish Government's administrative operations by 20% by 2011 against 2005/06 levels.
• Reduce carbon emissions from travel necessary for the Scottish Government's administrative operations by 40% by 2020 against 2005/06 levels.
• Fully offset CO ₂ emissions from business travel.

To achieve our objective it is the policy of the Government to:

• reduce congestion and exhaust emissions by introducing and developing Travel Plans for the main Edinburgh and Glasgow buildings to reduce the impact which commuting, business trips and transport operations have on the environment;
• continually review the feasibility and availability of alternative-fuelled technology for the Scottish Government vehicle fleet;
• prohibit the unnecessary idling of vehicle or other engines on Scottish Government sites; and
• offset impact of business travel through investment in emissions reducing projects in Scotland and overseas.

It is the responsibility of all Government staff to:

• ensure that the need to travel is essential or whether business needs can be met by some other method like videoconference or audioconference;
• always consider public transport as the first option for business travel taking into account value for money;
• consider rail as an alternative to air travel for all domestic journeys; and
• drive efficiently to minimise the environmental impact of the journey.

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Targets:

• Implement activities from Biodiversity action plans identified for 8 target buildings by March 2010 to conserve and enhance biodiversity at these sites.

To achieve our objective it is the policy of the Government to:

• maintain the Scottish Government estate by using good practice and encourage the planting of native flora and fauna, where appropriate;
• substitute the use of non-renewables (e.g., peat) with organic wastes such as coir, manure, leaf mould and bark chippings to improve the soil;
• establish a baseline of biodiversity at target buildings on the Government Estate and undertake regular audits to monitor progress; and
• maintain local action plans, where practical, to conserve and enhance biodiversity at target buildings on the Government Estate.

It is the responsibility of all Government staff to:

• ensure that their activities do not compromise or damage the biodiversity at Scottish Government buildings.

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Targets:

• Develop Environmental Management Systems (EMS) at 13 remaining target buildings using Greencode software with 1st Management Review to be produced by end of March 2008.

To achieve our objective it is the policy of the Government to:

• develop a procedure for the control of contractors to ensure that all services and their associated contractors are provided and managed in a way that reflects the office commitment towards environmental issues and awareness;
• develop and implement EMS across the Scottish Government Estate to effectively manage the Government's interaction with our environment;
• maintain and develop the EMS at Victoria Quay to ensure continuing compliance with ISO 14001;
• train key staff to raise awareness on waste management, legal requirements and environmental best practice;
• undertake BREEAM assessments when planning new or substantially refurbished premises;
• ensure that buildings occupied by the Scottish Government do not pose an actual or potential threat to users of the buildings and the natural and built environment, e.g., from contamination of the soil, ground water and surface water, hazards to the buildings and building materials and the migration of gas;
• endeavour to restrict noise levels produced on Scottish Government premises; and
• comply with the Noise at Work Regulations 2005 and keep daily personal exposure levels below 40dB(A) in cellular offices, 45dB(A) in open plan offices and below 74dB(A) for cars and 80dB(A) for heavy goods vehicles used by or on behalf of the Scottish Government.

It is the responsibility of all Goverment staff to:

• actively participate in ensuring that the requirements of the Government's Environmental Policy are met;
• actively participate in activities intended to deliver the Government's environmental targets; and
• ensure that all non-Government staff and contractors are aware of their responsibilities and act in accordance with the Government's Environmental Policy.

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To achieve our objective it is the policy of the Government to:

• produce annual environmental management information for inclusion in a report;
• maintain an environmental management Internet site;
• introduce a programme to promote skills for sustainable development and its integration within policy making;
• establish a representative Environmental Guardian network throughout the estate to assist in the promotion and implementation of environmental best practice in the workplace.

It is the responsibility of all Government staff to:

• familiarise themselves with the requirements of this policy.

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