This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Progress towards recycling target
17/11/2005
New figures published today show Scotland is on course to meet its recycling target, the Parliament heard today.
Latest quarterly statistics on waste show that the rolling year recycling/composting rate for the 12 months up to June 2005 was 19.2 per cent.
Thed rate for the quarter April-June 2005 was 23.9 per cent, compared to 16.6 per cent for the same quarter in 2004.
Environment Minister Ross Finnie told MSPs:
"The Scottish Executive's Strategic Waste Fund has made it easier for householders to recycle/compost waste through new facilities provided by Local Authorities. Householders in return have responded positively to that opportuntity.
"We are making good progress towards our 2006 target of 25% but we cannot rest on our laurels. The Scottish Executive, Local Authorities and individual householders must continue to work together in order to achieve our ambitious 30% target for 2008."
Waste data in Scotland is collected by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). The latest data, which shows information at local authority level can be found at http://www.sepa.org.uk/nws/data/returns.htm
The Executive's target is to reach 25% recycling/composting of municipal waste by 2006.
The National Waste Plan was published in February 2003.