THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEST INTEGRATED TRANSPORTATION OPTION (WASTE) FOR SCOTLAND: SCOPING STUDY
SR(00)05F

July 2000

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This scoping study has developed a research specification for a main project, on behalf of SNIFFER, for "Best Integrated Transportation Option (Waste) (BITOW)/GIS Assessment, as BPEO guidance for waste management option decisions in Scotland". The scoping study outlines a proposed strategy for the main project. This is addressed in terms of the ten points detailed in Annex 1 to the Tender Documents and reproduced in Appendix 1.

The project is designed to approach the movement of waste in the same way that integrated transport approaches the transport of people. That is, transport is viewed as a multi-modal exercise and the optimum mode for a given journey may be determined by factors such as cost, waste characteristics, energy consumption, travel time, travel distance, congestion or environmental performance. In the case of waste transport SNIFFER's main purpose is to provide a tool for the planning system to ensure that waste management facilities can be located to minimise journey distances and emissions.

Both the scoping study and the main project specification have been broken down into nine main elements reflecting this purpose, as follows:

These elements are likely to be best tendered as a single package. The main advantage of this approach is that the work is likely to be carried out more quickly and at lower overall cost than if tendered as separate packages. If several packages are let then the potential exists for a different contractor to win each element of the work. SNIFFER will then pay, in both monetary and time terms, for each tenderer to climb the not inconsiderable learning curve represented by BITOW. There will also be additional project management and administration costs associated with multiple small packages.

It should be clear from the foregoing that a significant amount of work is required in order to satisfy the project requirements. It is estimated that the work will need to be conducted over a period of 18 months. Realistic tenders for the work, excluding waste compaction but otherwise as a single package, are expected to be of the order of £150k. Alternative means of letting the work are discussed and costed.

Extension of the main project to cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland is currently being considered by SNIFFER. Whilst it is clear that if the project is taken forward in this manner that the costs will be significantly increased the degree to which this is the case is not entirely clear at this stage and will need to be investigated further at the appropriate time.

Waste compaction was intended to be part of the original study. However, there is a general lack of information on the compaction characteristics of waste, especially outwith the landfill environment. However, the available information on road vehicle emissions and the authors' extensive knowledge of the compaction process indicates that the compaction can have a fundamental effect on the emissions produced in transporting waste from the point of source to the point of disposal/reuse. It is thus considered that the issue of waste compaction is sufficiently important and novel to merit a separately funded study. It is recommended that such a study be carried out in parallel with the main project. The waste compaction project is estimated at between £60k and £75k.

Copies of this report are available from the Foundation, price £10.00, less 20% to FWR members.