Only 6% Of Textiles Donations Go To Waste
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Transcript of Only 6% Of Textiles Donations Go To Waste
David Moir
Head of Policy & Public Affairs
Charity shops prevent waste• 250,000t of textiles each year• Over 21,000t of books• Sale in-store• Bagged for reuse elsewhere• Bagged for recycling• Only 6% of textiles donations go to waste
Waste charging legislationSchedules 1&2 to the Controlled Waste Regulations – classes of waste
Waste from charity shops is household waste
Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1962 – “charitable purpose”
Charity shops serve a charitable purpose
Schedule 1
“Waste from premises occupied by a charity and wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes”
is classed as household waste
Schedule 2
A collection charge may apply to;
“Waste from premises occupied by a charity and wholly or mainly used for charitable purposes, unless it is waste falling within paragraph 1 of Schedule 1”
Charging for household waste
Authorities can charge for collection only
Under no circumstances can disposal charges ever be applied to household waste
Local authority behaviour
• Good guys charge for collection only: really good guys don’t charge at all• Some offer a limited free service, then charge for collection & disposal• The really bad guys charge for collection and disposal on the lot
Scottish authorities – good guysNo charges Collection charge only
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Aberdeen
East Dunbartonshire Argyll and Bute
East Lothian Clackmannanshire (some free)
Falkirk Glasgow
Midlothian Highland
Moray North Ayrshire
Renfrewshire
Shetland Islands
South Lanarkshire
Stirling
West Dunbartonshire
Scottish authorities – bad guysCollection & disposal Some free, then charge for both
Dundee Aberdeenshire
Orkney Islands Angus
Perth and Kinross Dumfries and Galloway
Scottish Borders Edinburgh
West Lothian
For other authorities, policy is unclear. We will check – so should you.
“Reasons” for overcharging• Charity shops are commercial premises
They’re not – they serve a charitable purpose• Charity shops produce too much waste
Shops only put out what can’t be reused or recycled. It would have ended up in landfill otherwise
“Reasons” for overcharging #2
• We provide free disposal facilities
Which is nice, but has nothing to do with collection charges• We need to cover disposal costs including landfill
There should never be disposal costs for household waste. Landfill taxes don’t apply to household waste
“Reasons” for overcharging #3• Only religious premises are exempt from charging
This is not about exemptions, but about fair charges within the Regulations
• The council taxpayer should not have to pay
If authorities had charged correctly in the first place, and set their budgets accordingly, there would be no need for any adjustment. Charity shops and council taxpayers should not be penalised for this failure
Costs
Based on member returns, on average;
Collection=£400 pa
Disposal=£400 pa
Incorrect charging will double your bill
Campaign•Wrote to all authorities•Follow-up with authorities•Wrote to the Executive•Met the Executive on 26/2•Met COSLA on 26/2•Saved over £125,000 pa in England so far•Moving the campaign up a gear
What you can do
Write to your authority – standard letter on the website
Try your MSP, MP & Councillor
Log actions & replies on the website database
Speak to David - 020 7255 4483: [email protected]
European definition of waste•Waste Framework Directive – 1975
•Defined “waste”
•European Court of Justice rulings
•New Waste Framework Directive – 2007
Key concerns• ECJ – donations may be treated as waste• No provision for reuse of non-waste – eg donations• No recognition of the key inputs from charity shops and other reusers• SEPA definition of waste
Possible outcomes• Bags of donations are “waste” or are fly-
tipped
• Sales will be of “recovered waste”, not quality second hand goods
• All shops become waste carriers
• All shops will need to register as exempt
Actions•Response to DEFRA consultation•Ongoing lobbying of DEFRA•Meeting with SEPA on 26/2•Keeping in touch with others – eg CRNS•RREUSE network•Lobbied Caroline Jackson MEP
STOP PRESS• SEPA cannot change their
definition of donations as waste, BUT
• Keen to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with us to make sure impacts on Scottish shops are minimised
• We’ll keep you informed
Waste not, want notCharity shops don’t produce waste – they prevent it
Charity shops reuse and recycle
Vital funds and environmental gain
Reducing carbon footprint
Ethical shopping