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Scottish Government hosts Waste Summit
03/10/2007
Ministers have called together Scotland's local authorities, waste industry and environmental groups for talks on how to make further progress on dealing with the country's waste on the same day that new statistics showed further improvements in recycling rates.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said:
"This is a key opportunity for representatives from all local authorities, environmental groups, MSPs, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and other relevant bodies to come together to discuss the future of Scotland's waste strategy.
"As a nation, we must all work together to preserve the planet's resources by stepping up our efforts to reduce waste and increase recycling.
"SEPA's latest figures point to recycling rates improving with 28.4 per cent of waste in Scotland in 2006/07 recycled or composted. And the figures show improvements across the country, with the lowest rate being 16.8 per cent.
"The amount of waste going to landfill is going down. In 2006-07, we sent over 100,000 tonnes less municipal waste to landfill, when compared with 2005-06.
"But we must do more to tackle waste growth in our move towards a zero waste society. This summit is a key part of that drive and I look forward to hearing a wide range of views on how we keep making progress.
"There will be prompt action on dealing with waste, but we need to have local authorities, the waste management community and the public on board.
"Public awareness of the need to reduce and recycle our waste is clearly increasing and I was pleased to start the day by marking the delivery of the 150,000th composting bin from our home composting programme."
Minister for Environment Michael Russell added:
"Today is much more than a talking shop. We must keep up the pressure and do even more to raise awareness of the simple ways in which people can help the environment.
"This Government aspires to a zero waste society and today's summit will provide valuable ideas on how that becomes a reality."