Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in waste present a significant barrier to Scotland’s circular economy and net zero ambitions, often forcing valuable materials into high‑carbon disposal routes.
SEFARI Gateway convened a Specialist Advisory to provide independent advice on whether emerging technologies could safely identify, separate or treat POP‑containing waste, enabling materials to be reused or recycled.
The Specialist Advisory Group review found that while incineration remains the only fully established option, several promising technologies could reduce reliance on destruction if supported by targeted research, testing capacity and policy. These findings provide Scottish Government with evidence to guide future regulation, infrastructure planning and research investment.
Photo credit: Amy Cooper
Stage
Purpose
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are tightly regulated substances that present a major challenge for waste management and the transition to a circular economy.
To ensure compliance with international obligations under compliance to current guidelines (the Stockholm Convention), waste streams containing POPs are typically destroyed by high temperature incineration. While effective for risk reduction, this approach prevents recycling and reuse, increases greenhouse gas emissions and limits progress towards net zero.
Scottish Government commissioned this work to understand whether emerging and existing technologies and practices could offer safe, compliant alternatives to incineration, and what barriers are currently preventing their deployment.
The aim of the Specialist Advisory Group convened by SEFARI Gateway was to provide decision makers with an evidence based understanding of future options, risks and opportunities for managing POP containing waste in a way that supports circular economy ambitions.
Results
The Specialist Advisory Group found that Scotland currently relies almost entirely on incineration to manage POP containing waste, not because alternatives do not exist, but because supporting infrastructure, testing capacity and regulatory clarity are lacking.
Several emerging technologies, such as density separation, chemical extraction and plant-based remediation, were identified that show potential to identify, separate or treat POP containing materials, allowing some waste streams to be diverted from destruction. However, most remain at the laboratory or pilot scale and are not yet deployable at commercial scale.
Stakeholders emphasised that progress is constrained by limited access to accredited testing facilities, uncertainty around regulatory acceptance, and a lack of incentives to invest in innovation where incineration remains the default compliance route. A further challenge identified by stakeholders was limited knowledge of the chemical composition of products. Many advocated for the use of product passports to improve traceability and help determine the most appropriate management options for waste containing POPs.
The Specialist Advisory Group concluded that there is no single ‘silver bullet’ solution. Instead, a combination of targeted research, policy clarity and infrastructure development will be required to enable safe innovation while maintaining environmental and human health protections.
Benefits
By clarifying where technological potential exists and where critical gaps remain, the work helps prioritise future funding towards solutions most likely to deliver environmental and economic benefit.
The findings highlight opportunities to reduce long term reliance on incineration, supporting Scotland’s climate and net zero objectives while maintaining compliance with international chemical safety obligations.
Importantly, the work positions Scotland as a potential test bed for compliant innovation in POPs management, demonstrating how robust regulation and circular economy ambitions can be pursued together.
To read the full SEFARI Gateway report, including recommendations, please visit the following webpage:
Case study written by Amy Cooper
Project Partners
Eulyn Pagaling (The James Hutton Institute)
Lucinda Robinson (The James Hutton Institute)
Michelle Bloor (University of Glasgow)
Laura Carter (University of Leeds)
Efthalia Chatzisymeon (University of Edinburgh)
Stuart Harrad (University of Birmingham)
Andreas Kolb (Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen)
Martin Sharkey (University of Galway)
Anna Stec (University of Central Lancashire)
Zulin Zhang (The James Hutton Institute)
Ioanna Akoumianaki (SEFARI Gateway)
Lorna Dawson (SEFARI Gateway)