This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Report shows recycling progress
05/02/2004
A report by Audit Scotland into the levels of municipal
waste being sent to landfill show progress is being made
in increasing recycling.
Welcoming the report, the Deputy Environment Minister
stressed that the Executive's investment programme of over
£230 million will ensure further progress is made.
Allan Wilson said:
"The Audit Scotland figures clearly show progress is
being made in increasing recycling. Recycling and
composting has increased from 7.4 per cent to 9.6 per cent
- an increase of over 80,000 tonnes. Where comparisons
with the previous year could be made, only two councils
reported a reduction in the amount of waste being recycled
or composted. Only four Scottish authorities reported an
increase in the amount of waste being landfilled.
"There is progress, but we recognise that landfill
figures are too high and recycling too low. That is why we
announced a major investment of over £230 million from
2003/04 to 2005/06 to tackle this. The Audit Scotland
figures predate this major investment which has already
begun to make a major impact in local areas. In North
Ayrshire Council the recycling and composting rate
increased from 5.8 per cent in 2001/02 to 12.3 per cent in
2002/03; South Ayrshire's rate increased from 5.1 per cent
to 10.7 per cent and North Lanarkshire from 7.3 per cent to
13.8 per cent.
"Both local authorities and the Executive know that much
still needs to be done. However, the resources are being
provided and the infrastructure put in place to make
recycling easier and more convenient for householders.
"A number of awareness raising campaigns are being run
across the country. These run in tandem with the
introduction of new recycling and composting schemes and
will ensure that householders throughout Scotland can play
their part in recycling and reducing our negative impact on
the environment. I announced in Parliament during the
debate on the National Waste Plan on 21 January that the
Executive would provide an additional £900,000 over three
years to the Scottish Waste Awareness Group. The Executive
also runs the Do a Little Change a Lot campaign, which
raises awareness of waste issues at a national level.
"There is considerable enthusiasm amongst local
authorities to meet this challenge and we are determined to
support them. The Executive and Scotland's Local
Authorities are transforming Scotland's record on
waste."