The purpose of the work is: to identify the quantity and specification of contaminated plastics generated in Scotland by the processing and production food and drink sector (therefore excluding agriculture, aquaculture or fishing), the number of business generating this waste stream and the current methods of disposal being utilised. This information should then be used to undertake an evaluation of opportunities both for prevention/minimisation of this waste stream and also alternative disposal methods that would move contaminated plastic further up the waste hierarchy.
The work will quantify the amount (in tonnes) of contaminated rigid and film plastics, generated by the food and drink sector in Scotland. The research will identify the manufacturers, uses and standard specification for this plastic; the industrial and commercial sources of this waste stream and the current disposal methods utilised; an evaluation of methods for minimising or preventing the generation of this waste and an assessment of the most environmentally and economically advantageous methods of recovering value from this waste stream.
