This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Real nappies - real progress
16/03/2004
Deputy Environment Minister Allan Wilson today
emphasised the important contribution that the use of real
nappies could make to reducing the amount of waste sent to
Scotland's landfill sites.
Almost £650,000 will be granted over the next two years
to promote the use of real nappies through the Waste and
Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
WRAP is a UK initiative which the Executive partially
funds to promote market development and waste minimisation
work.
The Executive intends to provide WRAP with £328,900 in
2004/05 and a further £316,400 in 2005/06.
WRAP will use these resources to provide financial
support for the Scottish Nappy Network; market research on
nappies; a grant aid programme to support real nappy
schemes and businesses; marketing campaigns and various
other activities.
At the second Scottish National Nappy Conference at
Stirling, Mr Wilson said:
"The Scottish Executive wants to see a dramatic
reduction in the amount of waste which Scots send to
landfill sites. We are committed to recycling and
composting 25 per cent of municipal waste by 2006.
"A significant element in the non-biodegradable waste
being sent to landfill is currently disposable nappies.
"I understand fully why people use disposable nappies -
they are convenient. However, there is also a growing
realisation amongst the general public that we need to do
more to reduce waste.
"To help achieve this, we need to look hard at
minimising the amount of waste we produce. This initiative
provides us with a viable and potentially economical way of
doing this in one important area."
WRAP is a not-for-profit company (limited by guarantee)
and operates on a UK basis. Its main focus is the
development of markets for recycled products where, in
Scotland, it works in partnership with REMADE Scotland.
WRAP is now moving into additional areas, including work on
waste prevention.
As well as nappies, WRAP's waste prevention programme
will also cover home composting (to evaluate the
contribution home composting can make to waste prevention);
discussions with retailers (to consider what role
supermarkets can play in reducing domestic waste); and a
waste minimisation innovation fund, to encourage products
to be designed to minimise waste.
The Scottish Nappy Network is a forum established to
promote the availability of real nappies and share
information and best practice.