Even the top performing countries globally for recycling – Germany, Austria, South Korea and Wales – still generate over 40% as residual waste, which requires management and treatment. Even with a greater focus on recycling in Scotland – there will still be a residual waste fraction which requires treatment.

All of this highlights Scotland’s lack of a clear and considered residual waste strategy. But while it would be easy to lambast the decision makers for this lack of detail – a better use of collective endeavour would be to help Scotland to stave off an impending crisis.

To do that, the waste industry must push for the barriers to change to be removed. Inexperienced resources, a lack of urgency in the planning and permitting process and siloed thinking are hindering the adoption of important new technologies.

Want to see more SNP fails? – Health Matters