Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-08231

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 11 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has (a) undertaken and (b) considered to utilise vermiculture processes to convert organic waste to a sustainable circular alternative to chemical fertiliser.

We have not funded research on vermiculture in the current Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Strategic Research Programme (2022-7), nor in its previous programme, (2015-22).

In the previous programme however Scottish Government did fund research on green manure and municipal waste compost as part of a programme to monitor soil and plant nutrients, sustainable soil, and water management, as well as in research projects on alternative approaches to sustainable land management.

The Scottish Government’s Farm Advisory Service (FAS) is available to help support farmers, crofters and land-managers realise their potential through quality, innovative, and largely free advice, and we would encourage businesses to get in touch.

The Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture was published on 2 March 2022. The vision outlines our aim to transform how we support farming and food production in Scotland to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

We see opportunities to include more nitrogen-fixing crops in our pasture and arable rotations to reduce our requirements for nitrogen fertilisers and we will be considering how to encourage wider use of nitrogen-fixing crops as we continue to develop the National Test Programme. We would urge all farmers to take up the Programme’s support for soil sampling and analysis under the first phase of Track 1, ‘Preparing for Sustainable Farming,’ which aims to help farmers and crofters to prepare their farms to meet the conditions of future agriculture policy and support and is open to all. Further information on PSF is available on the Scottish Government website , including comprehensive guidance for those seeking to get involved.

Question reference: S6W-08344

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economics of processing Scotland’s scrap steel domestically.

Question reference: S6W-08345

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 May 2022
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economics of electric arc furnaces in Scotland.

As noted in the reply to question S6W-08344, we commissioned independent research into the steel sector in Scotland: this included consideration of the scope for electric arc furnaces in Scotland. We would encourage any company interested in developing an electric arc furnace to seek advice and support from their local Enterprise Agency. These are large-scale ambitions that need large-scale solutions and will require significant private sector investment.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

Question reference: S6W-07990

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of landfill site locations that closed in each of the last five years, and, in each case, how long the site underwent monitoring prior to closure.

The following table provides a breakdown of all landfill sites with a pollution, prevention and control (PPC) permit that are currently in the ‘closure’ phase, in that they are not receiving waste for disposal .

Following the December 2020 cyber-attack on SEPA, it is not possible for SEPA to provide the dates at which sites moved from operational to closure status but in the last five years no PPC landfill sites have entered ‘Definite Closure’ meaning these sites could theoretically become operational again in the future.

All of these sites have been monitored, both by the operator and/or SEPA since before their permit was issued and will continue to be subject to monitoring until such time as an application to surrender the permit is approved by SEPA, i.e. throughout operational, closure, definite closure and after care phases.

Site Name	Status/Phase	Site location
A & M Smith, Bankhead, Portlethen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Crows Nest L/F,Raemoir Rd,Banchory,Aberdeen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Brandon Howe L/F Site, Inverboyndie, Banff	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Howe of Byth, Cowbog, New Pitsligo	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Hill of Tramaud Landfill, Harehill, Aberdeen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Auchenlosh Landfill Site	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Galdenoch Waste Disp Site, Leswalt, Stranraer	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Aucheniness Waste Disposal Site, Dalbeatie	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Cockenzie Ash Lagoons, Musselburgh	Closure	East Lothian
JM Murdoch, East Capellie Farm L/F, Neilston	Closure	East Renfrewshire Council
West Fortune Transfer Station & Landfill	Closure	Edinburgh Lothian and Borders
Scottish Water, Broadside Landfill, Denny	Closure	Falkirk Council
Scottish Power, Valleyfield Ash Lagoons	Closure	Fife Council
Oatslie Sandpit L/F, Cleugh Rd, Midlothian	Closure	Midlothian Council
Shewalton Landfill Area 2 & 4/5, Irvine	Closure	North Ayrshire Council
Auchinlea L/F Site, Bellside, Cleland, M/well	Closure	North Ayrshire Council
Mossband Farm High Street Newhouse Motherwell	Closure	North Lanarkshire Council
Kingsdale LFS, Firth, Orkney	Closure	Orkney Island Council
Aberfeldy Groundworks Ltd, Mains of Taymouth	Closure	Perth & Kinross Council
SITA, Binn Landfill, Binn Farm, Glenfarg	Closure	Perth & Kinross Council
WH Malcolm Ltd, Reilly Quarry, Houston	Closure	Renfrewshire Council
James Fairbairn, Lamberton Inert Waste L/F	Closure	Scottish Borders Council
Easter Langlee Landfill Site, Galashiels	Closure	Scottish Borders Council
Shetland Gas Plant Peat Store, Sullom Voe	Closure	Shetland Islands Council
Tarbolton Moss Landfill Site, South Ayrshire	Closure	South Ayrshire Council
GCC, Cathkin L/F, Cairnmuir Rd, East Kilbride	Closure	South Lanarkshire
Rigmuir Landfill Site, East Kilbride	Closure	South Lanarkshire
Muirhouse LF, Muirhouse Quarry, Strathblane	Closure	Stirling Council

Source: Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

Question reference: S6W-07992

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the procedure required to formally close a landfill site, including any period of monitoring required.

The status of a landfill site can be described as either ‘Operational’, ‘Closure’, ‘Definite Closure’ or ‘Aftercare’.

Landfill sites are not considered formally closed until they reach ‘Definite Closure’ status. Sites in the Closure phase are those which are no longer accepting waste, but could potentially be made operational again in the future.

The Landfill (Scotland) Regulations 2003 outline the formal legal process behind the closure of landfill sites to achieve Definite Closure.

As per these regulations, closing procedures to achieve Definite Closure begin when either the conditions specified in the landfill permit are satisfied; when SEPA initiate closing procedures following a request from the landfill operator; or following a reasoned decision of SEPA set out in a closure notice.

Closing procedures will not be completed until the reports from the operator, as required by SEPA, have been submitted to and assessed by SEPA; a final on-site inspection is carried out by SEPA; and SEPA have given the operator notice in writing that it approves the closure of the landfill site.

Once Definite Closure has been established the site is considered to be in its aftercare phase. The aftercare phase will continue until such time as an application to surrender the permit is approved. The site is regulated and monitored by SEPA throughout the operational, closure, definite closure and aftercare phases.

Further information can be found in SEPA guidance WST-G-56 ‘Guidance on Closed Landfill Regulated under Pollution Prevention and Control’.

Question reference: S6W-07991

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 10 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of landfill sites by (a) area covered and (b) active status.

The following table provides a full breakdown of landfill sites with a pollution prevention and control (PPC) permit with their locations and current operational status.

It is not possible to specify the area covered by each landfill given it is a commercial decision for landfill operators where they accept waste from. The local authority that each site is located in is provided in the following table, but it is possible that waste will travel between local authority areas prior to being landfilled.

Site Name	Status/Phase	Site location
A & M Smith, Bankhead, Portlethen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Crows Nest L/F,Raemoir Rd,Banchory,Aberdeen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Brandon Howe L/F Site, Inverboyndie, Banff	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Park Quarry, Kincluny Farm, Durris	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Easter Hatton Environment, Balmedie, Aberdeen	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Loch Hills Quarry, Parkhill, Dyce, Aberdeen	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Savoch Quarry Landfill Site, Peterhead	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Howe of Byth, Cowbog, New Pitsligo	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Stoneyhill Environ Pk, Peterhead, Aberdeen	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Hill of Tramaud Landfill, Harehill, Aberdeen	Closure	Aberdeenshire Council
Wester Hatton L/F Site, Balmedie, Aberdeen	Operational	Aberdeenshire Council
Restenneth Landfill Site, Montrose Rd, Forfar	Operational	Angus Council
D Geddes Ltd, Border Quarry LF, Friockheim	Operational	Angus Council
D Geddes Ltd, Ardownie Landfill, Monifieth	Operational	Angus Council
D Geddes (Con) Ltd, Prettycur Landfill,Forfar	Operational	Angus Council
Hatton Mill Landfill site	Operational	Angus Council
Tayside Contrcts,Bolshan Quarry LF,Friockheim	Operational	Angus, Dundee & Perth & Kinross Councils
Gott Bay LFS, Isle of Tiree, Argyll	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Glengorm Landfill Site, Glengorm Rd, Tobermor	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Gartbreck Landfill Site, Bowmore, Islay	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Dalinlongart L/F & Compost, Sandbank, Dunoon	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Lingerton Landfill Site	Operational	Argyll & Bute Council
Bennadrove L/F Site, Marybank, Isle of Lewis	Operational	Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Auchenlosh Landfill Site	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Galdenoch Waste Disp Site, Leswalt, Stranraer	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Aucheniness Waste Disposal Site, Dalbeatie	Closure	Dumfries and Galloway Council
Barr Environ, Garlaff L/F, Skares Rd, Cumnock	Operational	East Ayrshire
Cockenzie Ash Lagoons, Musselburgh	Closure	East Lothian
Viridor Waste,Dunbar L/F,Oxwell Mains,Dunbar	Operational	East Lothian
JM Murdoch, East Capellie Farm L/F, Neilston	Closure	East Renfrewshire Council
West Fortune Transfer Station & Landfill	Closure	Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders
Avondale Non-Hazardous Landfill, Polmont	Operational	Falkirk Council
Avondale Environmental, Polmont, Falkirk (Haz)	Operational	Falkirk Council
West Carron Landfill, Stenhouse Rd, Falkirk	Operational	Falkirk Council
Scottish Water, Broadside Landfill, Denny	Closure	Falkirk Council
Fife Council, Lochhead L/F, By Wellwood, Fife	Operational	Fife Council
Fife Council, Lower Melville Woods, Fife	Operational	Fife Council
Scottish Power, Valleyfield Ash Lagoons	Closure	Fife Council
Greenoakhill L/F Site, Hamilton Rd, Glasgow	Operational	Glasgow City Council
Skitten Quarry, Skitten, Wick	Operational	Highland Council
Duisky Landfill Site, Fort William (Site 5)	Operational	Highland Council
Oatslie Sandpit L/F, Cleugh Rd, Midlothian	Closure	Midlothian Council
Drummond Moor (No2) L/F, Rosewell, Midlothian	Operational	Midlothian Council
Middleton Quarry, Middleton, Gorebridge	Operational	Midlothian Council
Nether Dallachy Landfill Site, Spey Bay	Operational	Moray Council
Shewalton Landfill Area 2 & 4/5, Irvine	Closure	North Ayrshire Council
Auchinlea L/F Site, Bellside, Cleland, M/well	Closure	North Ayrshire Council
Knowes Farm IV Landfill Site, Beith	Operational	North Ayrshire Council
Loanhead Quarry, Boydstone Road, Beith	Operational	North Ayrshire Council
Greengairs L/F, Meikle Drumgray Rd, Airdrie	Operational	North Lanarkshire Council
Levenseat Waste Management Site, Lanarkshire	Operational	North Lanarkshire Council
Mossband Farm High Street Newhouse Motherwell	Closure	North Lanarkshire Council
Kingsdale LFS, Firth, Orkney	Closure	Orkney Islands Council
OIC Bossack Landfill, Bossack, Orkney	Operational	Orkney Islands Council
Aberfeldy Groundworks Ltd, Mains of Taymouth	Closure	Perth & Kinross Council
SITA, Binn Landfill, Binn Farm, Glenfarg	Closure	Perth & Kinross Council
Bishopton Landfill, Royal Ordnance Site	Operational	Renfrewshire Council
Kilbarchan Landfill, Branscroft, Kilbarchan	Operational	Renfrewshire Council
WH Malcolm Ltd, Reilly Quarry, Houston	Closure	Renfrewshire Council
James Fairbairn, Lamberton Inert Waste L/F	Closure	Scottish Borders Council
Easter Langlee Landfill Site, Galashiels	Closure	Scottish Borders Council
Gremista Landfill, Lerwick, Shetland	Operational	Shetland Islands Council
Shetland Gas Plant Peat Store, Sullom Voe	Closure	Shetland Islands Council
Straid Farm Landfill Site, Lendalfoot, Girvan	Operational	South Ayrshire Council
Tarbolton Moss Landfill Site, South Ayrshire	Closure	South Ayrshire Council
GCC, Cathkin L/F, Cairnmuir Rd, East Kilbride	Closure	South Lanarkshire Council
Carscallan Farm Landfill, Quarter, Hamilton	Operational	South Lanarkshire Council
Rigmuir Landfill Site, East Kilbride	Closure	South Lanarkshire Council
W Hamilton & Sons, Dovesdale Farm LF,Stonehse	Operational	South Lanarkshire Council
Muirhouse LF, Muirhouse Quarry, Strathblane	Closure	Stirling Council
Highland Coun,Granish L/F,Aviemore,Inverness	Operational	The Highland Council
Highland Council,Seater L/F,Bower,Caithness	Operational	The Highland Council
Barr Environ, Auchencarroch L/F, Jamestown	Operational	West Dumbartonshire Council
Rigangower L/F, Off A82, Milton, Dumbarton	Operational	West Dumbartonshire Council
Torphin Quarry, Harburn, West Calder	Operational	West Lothian Council

Question reference: S6O-01072

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 May 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the education secretary has had with the circular economy minister regarding progress to enhance education and skills for a circular economy.

Question reference: S6W-07784

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of including glass in its Deposit Return Scheme, in light of other parts of the UK not including it.

Including glass in our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will bring significant environmental and economic benefits. The inclusion of glass will save over 1.2 megatonnes CO 2 equivalent over 25 years. DRS will also reduce the amount of harmful glass litter in our environment.

Our DRS is designed to stand alone and our business case did not include any assumptions about the level of ambition of schemes in other UK nations. We will, of course, work with the other UK administrations to ensure that our schemes are interoperable, without jeopardising the ambition of our own scheme.

Question reference: S6W-07785

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 April 2022
Current Status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 April 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to excluding glass containers from its Deposit Return Scheme, in light of the reported announcement that glass will not be included in the schemes in England and Northern Ireland.

Question reference: S6O-01040

Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 April 2022
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2022

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the culture minister has had with the minister for zero carbon buildings regarding work to install energy efficiency measures in cultural and heritage buildings.

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