Scotland Postpones Landfill Ban on Biodegradable Waste
November 7, 2025 – Scotland has postponed its planned landfill ban on biodegradable waste, originally scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, for two years.
The ban targets biodegradable waste from urban sources, prohibiting its entry into landfills.
The postponement is due to insufficient existing processing capacity to handle all such waste by the end of 2025.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) announced this decision in a Provisional Regulatory Position Statement (TRPS) on October 29.
The ban was introduced to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, encourage alternative treatments for organic waste, and promote resource recycling.
Under the TRPS, waste producers and managers can continue to send biodegradable waste to landfills after fulfilling notification and obtaining authorization, until December 31, 2027.
Landfill operators who have received compliance documentation from biodegradable plastic producers are also eligible for this temporary exemption.
