Highland Council’s decision to scrap plans for a controversial waste incinerator has been hailed as a major victory by environmental campaigners.
The council had been considering constructing a facility capable of burning up to 65,000 tonnes of household waste annually but will now pursue alternative waste management solutions.
Critics argued that incineration is costly, harmful to public health, and a significant contributor to climate change, with the process releasing dangerous pollutants into the atmosphere.
While the Scottish Government banned new incinerators in 2022, existing projects in the planning pipeline were allowed to proceed, prompting fears that loopholes could undermine environmental progress.
The council cited widespread public opposition, concerns over burning plastics, and a commitment to reducing emissions through increased recycling as key factors in its decision to cancel the incinerator.
Recycling rates in Scotland have stagnated at around 43% for the past decade, far short of the 60% target set for 2020 by the Scottish Government.
The Highland region lags even further behind, with a recycling rate of just 36% in 2023, a drop from 37% the previous year.
To manage waste in the short term, Highland Council will continue its existing arrangements for three years, including sending refuse to an incinerator in Dunbar.
Kim Pratt, Circular Economy Campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, praised the council’s decision as a step in the right direction.
“A new incinerator would have locked the Highlands into decades of waste burning, devastating for the planet and harmful to local communities,” she said.
“Highland Council now has an opportunity to focus on expanding reuse and recycling access for residents during this three-year period.”
Local campaigner Anne Thomas echoed these sentiments, celebrating the council’s decision to abandon the incinerator at the Longman site.
“We’ve campaigned against this incinerator for years, and this outcome is a huge relief,” Thomas said.
“Burning waste is not the solution—it’s inefficient, expensive, and produces more carbon emissions than coal. The council must now prioritise a true circular economy.”
Environmental advocates are urging other councils across Scotland to follow Highland Council’s example by rejecting polluting incinerators and committing to sustainable waste management practices.
This landmark decision has been widely seen as a turning point, highlighting the need for innovation in addressing Scotland’s waste and recycling challenges.
