Latest news with #SarahBoyack
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Scotland to dump 100 truckloads of waste in England a DAY amid incinerator shortage
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCOTLAND is set to dump up to 100 truckloads of waste a day in England due to a shortage of incinerators, it has emerged. SNP chiefs have been ridiculed after it came to light that rubbish will have to be shipped down south after an imminent ban on 'black bag' refuse being sent to landfill. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Around 100 truckloads of waste from Scotland will be dumped in England amid a shortage of incinerators Credit: Alamy 2 Non-recyclable black bag waste will be banned from landfill in Scotland from December 31 Credit: Alamy The Scottish Government hasn't got enough incinerators in place to cope with demand - despite the new rules already being delayed for more than four years. Scottish Conservative shadow net zero and energy secretary Douglas Lumsden: 'Shipping this amount of waste every single day down to England will undoubtedly harm Scotland's economy and nationalist politicians would be frothing at the mouth if the reverse was true.' Scottish Labour net zero spokeswoman Sarah Boyack said: 'This farcical policy speaks volumes about the SNP's sticking-plaster approach to government. "Once again the SNP has set ambitious targets and completely messed up the delivery.' Scottish Lib Dem climate emergency spokesperson Liam McArthur said: 'Carrying lorry loads of rubbish to be landfilled just beyond Berwick is even worse for the environment than landfilling it here due to the emissions generated by these journeys. 'If this was happening in reverse, the SNP would be up in arms.' The Scottish Government's new ban - kicking in from December 31 - covers biodegradable municipal waste and will apply to virtually all domestic and commercial waste. But BBC Scotland's Disclosure show was told a lack of incinerators - Scotland currently has eight - means a 'capacity gap' estimated to be around 600,000 tonnes in the first year of the ban. And some Scots councils and waste companies have approached rubbish firm operators in England about 'bridging contracts", which it's feared could be in place for several years. Waste expert David Balmer, from ERS Remediation, said: 'You're looking at the equivalent of between 80 and 100 trucks minimum running seven days a week to take this material to a facility in England or abroad.' Grim video shows piles of rubbish bags dumped in Glasgow housing estate after bin collections scrapped for six weeks But Alasdair Meldrum, director of waste management consultants Albion Environmental, said: 'We've probably not got the trucks and vehicles to actually move it.' The ban was meant to be in place from 2021 but was one of a number of policies delayed due to the pandemic and fears that businesses weren't ready. It will apply to non-recyclable black bag municipal waste, as well as materials like wood, textiles, paper and food, which breaks down to produce methane greenhouse gas. Climate Action and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: 'The reason for the incineration gap is due to outside factors, particularly inflation and the cost of initially building them. 'We've got plans for more incinerators, with energy from waste schemes, to come on in the next year, and over the next three years - so it is a temporary situation.' Scotland's recycling rates have barely shifted in the past decade. In 2013, homes recycled 41.6 per cent of waste but by 2023 that figure had only risen to 43.5 per cent.
Edinburgh Reporter
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Sarah Boyack to step down at the election
Sarah Boyack MSP said she will step down at next year's Scottish parliamentary election. Lothians MSP Sarah Boyack who was first elected to The Scottish Parliament in 1999 has announced she will step down at the next election. Ms Boyack has campaigned on many issues, from bus passes to trying to rid the city of 'party flats'. In recent weeks she managed to persuade the First Minister to give her an assurance that the Scottish Government will look at the relatively small amount of cash needed to ensure that Filmhouse will be able to complete all four cinemas before opening at the end of the month. Sarah said: 't has been the honour of my life to serve my community in the Scottish Parliament, but I've decided not to stand in next year's election. 'I am proud of what I achieved both in government & as a local MSP, from introducing free bus passes for the over 60s andnational parks, to pushing the successful campaign to secure a new eye hospital for Edinburgh. 'I am excited to campaign for Scottish Labour in the 2026 election and I will continue to support action to tackle our housing & climate emergencies after my time in Holyrood is done. 'It's been a privilege to serve the people of Lothian.' Labour MSP, Foysol Choudhury, said: 'Sarah has been an outstanding representative for Edinburgh and the Lothians over the past 25 years. A thoughtful and determined voice in Scottish politics, she has led vital portfolios including Culture, Transport, and Net Zero, always standing up for local communities and causes with conviction. Her dedication and leadership have left a lasting impact across the country. 'Since my own election, Sarah has been a tremendous support to me always ready with guidance, encouragement, and a listening ear. In many ways, she supported me like a big sister, and I will always be grateful for the kindness and wisdom she so generously shared. She has long been a respected and influential figure in our Parliament, and her presence will be deeply missed.' Gregor Poynton, Labour MP for Livingston, said: 'Sarah Boyack has been a tireless and passionate champion for Edinburgh, the Lothians, and for Scotland throughout her remarkable career. 'From her ground-breaking work as a Scottish Minister to her dedicated work with communities across the region, including West Lothian and the Almond Valley constituency, Sarah has always put people first. 'Her decision to stand down will not have been easy, but she can look back with real pride on a record of delivering for the Lothians in government and opposition alike. Sarah will be greatly missed at Holyrood and in our party, but I know she will continue to make an invaluable contribution to our movement and our country in the years ahead. 'I wish Sarah all the very best for the future and thank her for everything she has done for our region and for Scottish Labour.' We have loads of photos of Sarah in our library – here is just a selection. Sarah Boyack MSP at Pedal on Parliament 2023. Photo © 2023 Martin P. McAdam Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
13 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Truckloads of Scotland's rubbish to be exported to England after landfill ban
Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said the policy is "farcical". Truck loads of Scotland's waste will be exported to England at the end of the year after a landfill ban kicks in. SNP Ministers are banning 'black bag' waste from being buried in landfill from December 31st, but the BBC says they have admitted there are not enough incinerators to cope with extra demand. The Scottish Government has said the export of waste will only be a short term solution. Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said: 'This farcical policy speaks volumes about the SNP's sticking-plaster approach to government. 'Once again the SNP has set ambitious targets and completely messed up the delivery. "The climate emergency is a global one and the SNP is not doing the heavy lifting urgently required. 'The SNP needs a real plan to reduce waste and protect our natural environment.' The landfill ban relates to biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) and applies to domestic and commercial waste. It has been reported that up to 100 truckloads of Scotland's waste will be moved each day to England once the ban comes in. The Government wants to end black bag waste being buried in landfill sites by ramping up recycling rates and using incinerators. David Balmer, a waste expert from ERS Remediation, told the BBC Scotland Disclosure programme: "You're looking at the equivalent of between 80 and 100 trucks minimum running seven days a week to take this material to a facility in England or abroad." Gillian Martin, cabinet secretary for Climate Action and Energy, said: "The reason for the incineration gap is due to outside factors, particularly inflation and the cost of initially building them. "We've got plans for more incinerators, with energy from waste schemes, to come on in the next year, and over the next three years - so it is a temporary situation." Domestic recycling rates are not increasing as quickly as Ministers would like to see. Scottish homes recycled 41.6% of their waste in 2013 but ten years later the figure had increased by less than 2 percentage points to 43.5%. The Scottish Government said "Any export of waste should only ever be viewed as a short-term solution."
STV News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- STV News
Long-serving MSP Sarah Boyack prepares to stand down
Long-serving MSP Sarah Boyack has announced she will step down from Holyrood at the election next May. Ms Boyack said it has been 'the honour of my life' to serve as an MSP, but will not stand again in 2026. She was elected in the first Scottish Parliament election in 1999 and was MSP for Edinburgh Central until 2011. Ms Boyack was MSP for the Lothian region from 2011 to 2016 and then left parliament after failing to be re-elected, but returned in 2019. The MSP, who was transport minister in Donald Dewar's first cabinet, announced her intentions in the Edinburgh Evening News on Monday. She said: 'It has been the honour of my life to serve as an MSP in the Scottish Parliament. 'I am proud of what I have achieved, both in my time in government and in my local campaigns for issues that matter to my constituents. 'It is great to see progress being made on issues such as a new Eye Pavilion for Edinburgh, funding for the King's Theatre and the Filmhouse, but not least on my Member's Bill to ensure a more sustainable future for all of Scotland. 'I will also continue to support causes close to my heart from Edinburgh's housing crisis to the battle to ensure we remain one of the cultural capitals of the world. 'Although I am not standing again, I will work tirelessly in the election to achieve a Scottish Labour victory in 2026. 'I have loved my time representing this amazing community and I hope to see Anas Sarwar as First Minister champion these causes and more to achieve a more prosperous, sustainable and just Scotland.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Long-serving Edinburgh and Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack to stand down at 2026 Scottish Parliament elections
Long-serving Labour MSP Sarah Boyack has announced she will not be standing at next year's Holyrood elections. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... One of the original members of the new Scottish Parliament elected in 1999, she was made Minister for Transport and Environment in the first Scottish Cabinet She was MP for Edinburgh Central from 1999 until 2011 and then a Lothian list MSP from 2011 until 2016. Lothian MSP and Scottish Labour politician Sarah Boyack Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And although she lost her seat at the 2016 election, she returned to the parliament three years later, again as a Lothian list MSP, after Kezia Dugdale stood down. And she was re-elected in 2021. Announcing her decision to step down, Ms Boyack said it had been 'the honour of my life' to serve as an MSP for almost 25 years. And she pledged that, although she would not be a candidate, she would work tirelessly for a Labour victory next year. Before politics, Ms Boyack worked as a town planner and then became a lecturer at Heriot-Watt University. But politics and devolution were in her blood - her father Jim Boyack was prominent in the Labour Party and a leading figure in the Campaign for a Scottish Assembly. Looking back last year on 25 years of the parliament, she told the Evening News she had never harboured ambitions for high office when she stood as candidate in Edinburgh Central in 1999. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "The ambition for me was getting elected and I was thinking maybe I could be on a committee on a topic I care about, so to go in and become a Cabinet Secretary was unexpected and very exciting." Ms Boyack is the only current MSP who served in Donald Dewar's first Cabinet. In her role, in charge of transport, environment and planning, she was responsible for passing some of the Scottish Parliament's early landmark legislation, including free bus passes for the over 60s and the establishment of Scotland's first national parks. She continued in the role under new First Minister Henry McLeish after Donald Dewar's death, but she was not reappointed to the Cabinet when Jack McConnell took over in 2001. In 2003, she became convener of the Scottish Parliament's environment and rural development committee before returning to government in 2007 as Deputy Minister for the Environment and Rural Development. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Following Labour's heavy defeat in the 2011 Holyrood election, she co-chaired a review along with Jim Murphy of the Labour party in Scotland. And in 2014 she stood for the Scottish party leadership, finishing third in a race with Jim Murphy and Neil Findlay. Since returning to the parliament in 2019, she has served in multiple roles on the Labour front bench, most recently as spokesperson for Net Zero, Energy and Just Transition. And she also launched a member's bill to establish a Future Generations Commissioner for Scotland that is currently making its way through parliament. Ms Boyack said: 'It has been the honour of my life to serve as an MSP in the Scottish Parliament. I am proud of what I have achieved, both in my time in government and in my local campaigns for issues that matter to my constituents. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It is great to see progress being made on issues such as a new eye pavilion for Edinburgh, funding for the King's Theatre and the Filmhouse, but not least on my Member's Bill to ensure a more sustainable future for all of Scotland. 'I will also continue to support causes close to my heart from Edinburgh's housing crisis to the battle to ensure we remain one of the cultural capitals of the world. 'Although I am not standing again, I will work tirelessly in the election to achieve a Scottish Labour victory in 2026. 'I have loved my time representing this amazing community and I hope to see Anas Sarwar as First Minister champion these causes and more to achieve a more prosperous, sustainable and just Scotland.'
