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Waste sector crisis could see rubbish piling up on streets, experts warn

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  • the headline was changed: 'Perfect storm' Waste sector crisis could lead to see rubbish piling up on Scotland's streets, experts warn

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  • Scotland's waste sector is on the verge of a crisis which could see rubbish piling up on the streets, experts have said.
  • The Scottish government said was working with stakeholders to maintain resilience and identify contingency arrangements should they be needed.
  • Last year there were 10 sites which took in most of Scotland's residual waste – the material left over after recyclable and compostable materials have been separated out.
  • Much of the city's household waste is now being diverted to a large landfill site at Mount Vernon - but its operator, Patersons, says it only has a few months of space available for burying the rubbish.
  • Waste consultant Alasdair Meldrum, of Albion Environmental, says he has not seen such a looming crisis in almost 40 years of working in the industry.

5 sentences from our version of the report, chosen to cover it. Nothing here is written; every line is in the article below. How

There are warnings over a combination of significantly reduced landfill space and a breakdown of Glasgow's main incinerator.

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Scotland's waste sector is on the verge of a crisis which could see rubbish piling up on the streets, experts have said.

Industry representatives are due to meet ministers to discuss their concerns but say there's no short-term solution to avoid the crisis.

The Scottish government said was working with stakeholders to maintain resilience and identify contingency arrangements should they be needed.

Landfill capacity in Scotland has been shrinking as operators wind down their operations ahead of a forthcoming ban on sending black bag waste to landfill sites.

Last year there were 10 sites which took in most of Scotland's residual waste – the material left over after recyclable and compostable materials have been separated out.

The problems have been exacerbated by the breakdown of Glasgow's main incinerator at Polmadie, which has been out of action since April.

Much of the city's household waste is now being diverted to a large landfill site at Mount Vernon - but its operator, Patersons, says it only has a few months of space available for burying the rubbish.

The amount of rubbish being processed there has increased from about 2,000 tonnes to 5,000 tonnes a week.

Several sites in the north of England, some of which are understood to have received waste from Scotland, have been shut down by the Environment Agency following investigations into suspected illegal waste activity.

Landfill manager David Balmer said it was possible that Scotland would quickly run out of landfill space.

Waste consultant Alasdair Meldrum, of Albion Environmental, says he has not seen such a looming crisis in almost 40 years of working in the industry.

Shortened to 1 minute of reading, this version reads 11.8 on the Niral Score.

You are reading our version, not theirs. This is BBC News (Science and Environment)'s report shortened to its most important sentences, in plainer words, with verdicts and loaded words taken out. Plain description stays, and so do adjectives that carry a fact, such as "former" or "federal". The reporting, the facts and the quotations are theirs — quotations are never edited — and the indicators beside it measure this version. Hover or tap Adjectives to see every one left in the text.

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Outlet Niral ScoreAdjectivesSourcingSentimentGenderHappiness
BBC News (Science and Environment)as they published this story 13.8 25 67 -2.1 1.2 50.4
Mundane Readneutralized from BBC News (Science and Environment) 13.8 25 67 -2.1 1.2 50.4

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