Published on:
04
February 2003
Over £40 million has been awarded to take forward proposals contained in the Forth Valley Area Waste Plan.
Yesterday's announcement by Ross Finnie, Minister for the Environment and Rural Development comes from the Scottish Executive's £231m Strategic Waste Fund.
All three Forth Valley Councils - Clackmannanshire, Stirling and Falkirk - and SEPA have worked together over the past few years to develop the Forth Valley Area Waste Plan. The plan sets out proposals which will improve recycling and waste management across Forth Valley.
Councillor Willie Alexander, Vice-Convener of the Enterprise and Environment Committee said: "This is the biggest waste funding project ever seen in Scotland and the Forth Valley area is unique in that it is the only joint bid to the Strategic Waste Fund.
"Today's announcement meets all three councils' expectations for the joint Forth Valley bid and will allow us to invest in the facilities that the public need to allow them to recycle their waste."
The Forth Valley Waste Plan sets out plans for extensive kerbside recycling and large scale composting to combat the growing problem of waste.
At present 90% of household waste in Forth Valley is buried in landfill sites. The Forth Valley plan sets tough targets to cut waste and recycle 25% of waste by 2006 with the recycling rate rising to 30% by 2010.
Councillor Thomson, who chairs Stirling Council's Environmental Quality Committee said: "There can be little doubt that the partnership between all three Forth Valley Councils was crucial in securing this level of support. The Scottish Executive is to be congratulated for its courage and foresight."
As well as carrying out recycling and composting the Councils will be working with SWAG (the Scottish Waste Awareness Group) to raise awareness of waste and recycling and how waste impacts upon the environment. Education in the classroom will also benefit as part of the joint bid. Funding will go to schools for recycling through the Eco-Schools project.
"We are confident the Forth Valley Area Waste Plan will set an excellent example for all of Scotland," said Councillor David Forsyth, Convener of Falkirk Council's Environment and Heritage Committee.
"Continuing to use landfill to the extent we have in the past is no longer an option with strict limits being imposed on all local authorities. The Forth Valley approach to waste disposal - through recycling and composting - is the most environmentally acceptable way ahead."
The funding will also give a boost to jobs in the area as waste minimisation and kerbside recycling schemes are rolled out. It is planned that during the funding period more than 40 jobs will come to the Forth Valley area.